How To Treat Friedreich's Ataxia

Friedreich's ataxia, sometimes called spinocerebellar degeneration, is a genetically inherited disease that affects an individual's ability to walk. The rare condition also causes speech impairment and sensation loss in the legs and arms. Over time, the disease damages portions of the spinal cord and brain, and it can also affect the heart. About one in every forty thousand individuals will be born with Friedreich's ataxia. The condition doesn't have a cure, but it does have multiple available treatments to help deal with symptoms. Diagnosis typically occurs between ages ten and fifteen, though some cases have been diagnosed as early as two years old, and other patients haven't been diagnosed until they reach their fifties. About seventy-five percent of individuals with Friedreich's ataxia have a comorbid heart condition.