What is cerebral ataxia?

My mother had cerebral ataxia from the age of 70 until she died at 85. ...



The symptoms were increasing loss of balance, black outs and pains in her limbs. She had no problems with dementia.

Can you explain if it's a specific condition, is it hereditary and what preventative measures can be taken?


It's quite a difficult question to answer because I don't think we have enough information about your mother's condition to offer you specific advice.

There are many rare diseases that can affect the cerebellum, which is the part of the brain that is responsible for coordinating balance.

Some of these conditions are hereditary and a few can occur later in life.

But lack of coordination, or ataxia, is less rare and can be caused by quite a few conditions that are not inherited.

I think you need to get more information about your mother's illness. You can write to the consultant neurologist who dealt with your mother's case.

If the consultant is unavailable, you should contact the head of the neurology department in the same hospital.

They should be able to search the records and decide whether you need further advice.

I would hope that if your mother had inherited a neurological condition, you would have been counselled at the time about what this meant for you.

If this hasn't happened, I would look at this as a reason for optimism.

Yours sincerely

The NetDoctor Medical Team

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