You Need
Ataxia
Broadly speaking, the word "ataxia" simply means unsteadiness and
clumsiness, and has been given to the condition because those are usually the
earliest symptoms. As the disorder progresses, people with ataxia usually lose
the ability to walk, and can become totally disabled, having to depend on
others for their care. This is because ataxia destroys both nerve and muscle
cells. Vision (and in some cases hearing) and speech may also be affected.
Ataxia was started in 1964 (as Friedreich's Ataxia Group) by parents and
relatives, friends of people with Ataxia, doctors and scientists. Ataxia is a
registered charity with branches in England Scotland and Northern Ireland, as
well as a number of self-help groups. Ataxia deals with all kinds of
degenerative cerebellar ataxia, not just Friedreich's ataxia, and funds
research into causes and treatments.
For more information contact: www.ataxia.org.uk