Spinocerebellar Ataxia: Symptoms and Treatment

So you think money, property and virtues are all you can inherit? Well, there's news for you my friend, you can inherit spinocerebellar ataxia as well. Don't know what it means? Okay, SCA is a very dangerous genetic degenerative disease. Greek and Latin again? Spinocerebellar ataxia is a disease that is a) transferred from parent to child. And the one inheriting the disease will have the effects more dominant than the other inherited traits. b) the spinal cord and the brain degenerates (health deteriorates at a rapid pace). And, by the way, it has 11 monstrous types. Each evil enough to be called a disease by itself!!

The cerebellum, which is responsible for regulating and coordinating complex voluntary muscular movements and maintaining posture and balance, is a part of the brain that degenerates. Due to this, a person affected by this disease slowly loses his ability to perform regular tasks like walking to the store, bending over to tie his shoe laces or even stand and sit straight. These quintessential functions, when not done, leads to the wasting away of muscles. It would be terrible to witness yourself or a loved one go through such a vexing ordeal!

How would you know that you have received this disease? Well, there are, of course, several symptoms that one could keep an eye out for.

Ataxia - This is a condition wherein an individual experiences an inability of the body to maintain basic muscle coordination. Like hand-eye coordination or even left leg-right leg coordination.

Speech Impairment - In this condition, the patient will have slurred speech, difficulty in speaking, incoherent speaking and aphasia (inability to comprehend language and speak in it).

Deformity of the Spine - Ordinarily, the patient will seem to have bad posture. It could also look like they have a hunch-back.

Irregular Movements - The individual will seem to have several spasms at irregular intervals. The spasms can vary in intensity.

Paralysis of Lower Limb Muscles - The individual will develop paralysis below the waist. The muscles of the thigh or calves can get temporarily paralyzed. However, the duration of paralysis can differ from patient to patient.

Whoa! These symptoms would make life fairly difficult for the patient! So what are the treatments for this demonic genetic disease? If anyone shows these symptoms, take them to a neurologist at the earliest. Although the disease is, sadly, incurable, there is treatment that will help control the symptoms. On the basis of the cause, type and properties of SCA, the neurologist will advise medication and vitamin supplements. Mind you, the medication will not slow down the rate at which the disease progresses. Nonetheless, it will help by making it easier to deal with the entire ordeal.

Often, the patient is not at fault for having contracted a disease. SCA is one of such diseases. The best that we can do for people battling this disease is to support them and help them fill their life with as much joy as we can. After all, the length of the life seldom has consequence, it is the quality that should make a difference!