Spinocerebellar ataxia (SCA) is a term referring to a group of hereditary ataxias that are characterized by degenerative changes in the part of the brain related to the movement control (cerebellum), and sometimes in the spinal cord.

Causes of Spinocerebellar Ataxia The cause of spinocerebellar ataxia is atrophy of the cerebellum, as seen in other forms of ataxia. Onset of spinocerebellar ataxia is generally after the age of 18 and progresses slowly, with symptoms worsening over a period of years. Some types of SCA can progress more quickly.

An estimated 150,000 people in the United States have a diagnosis of spinocerebellar ataxia at any given time. SCA is hereditary, progressive, degenerative, and often fatal. There is no known effective treatment or cure. SCA can affect anyone of any age.

A rare, genetic, autosomal recessive cerebellar ataxia disease characterized by adulthood-onset of slowly progressive spinocerebellar ataxia, manifesting with gait and appendicular ataxia, dysarthria, ocular movement anomalies (e.g. horizontal, vertical, and/or downbeat nystagmus, hypermetric saccades), increased deep …

Damage, degeneration or loss of nerve cells in the part of your brain that controls muscle coordination (cerebellum), results in ataxia.

Sporadic Ataxia can be either “pure cerebellar” if only the cerebellum is affected or cerebellar plus, if the Ataxia is accompanied by additional symptoms such a neuropathy, dementia, or weakness, rigidity, or spasticity of the muscles.

( Spinocerebellar degeneration is a rare inherited neurological disorder of the central nervous system characterized by the slow degeneration of certain areas of the brain. There are three forms of spinocerebellar degeneration: Types 1, 2, 3.

Spinocerebellar ataxia. Spinocerebellar ataxia (SCA), also known as spinocerebellar atrophy or spinocerebellar degeneration, is a progressive, degenerative, genetic disease with multiple types, each of which could be considered a neurological condition in its own right.

The NINDS supports and conducts a broad range of basic and clinical research on cerebellar and spinocerebellar degeneration, including work aimed at finding the cause (s) of ataxias and ways to treat, cure, and, ultimately, prevent them.

The ventral spinocerebellar tract (or anterior spinocerebellar tract) conveys proprioceptive information from the body to the cerebellum. Historically, it has also been known as Gowers’ column (or fasciculus or tract), after Sir William Richard Gowers .