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How long can you live with ataxia telangiectasia?

How long can you live with ataxia telangiectasia?

Ataxia telangiectasia is a rare, multiorgan neurodegenerative disorder with enhanced vulnerability to cancer and infection. Median survival in two large cohorts of patients with this disease, one prospective and one retrospective, is 25 and 19 years, with a wide range.

How do people get ataxia telangiectasia?

Ataxia telangiectasia is inherited as an autosomal recessive trait. Genetic diseases are determined by two genes, one received from the father and one from the mother. Recessive genetic disorders occur when an individual inherits the same abnormal gene for the same trait from each parent.

How does ataxia telangiectasia affect the brain?

Cells in the part of the brain involved in coordinating movements (the cerebellum ) are particularly affected by loss of the ATM protein. The loss of these brain cells causes some of the movement problems characteristic of ataxia-telangiectasia.

Is ataxia a cancer?

These are rare, degenerative disorders triggered by your immune system’s response to a cancerous tumor (neoplasm), most commonly from lung, ovarian, breast or lymphatic cancer. Ataxia can appear months or years before the cancer is diagnosed.

What body systems are affected by ataxia-telangiectasia?

Ataxia-telangiectasia (AT) is a rare inherited condition that affects the nervous system, the immune system and other body systems. It is characterized by the presence of: Progressive ataxia (lack of coordination) due to a defect in the cerebellum (the part of the brain involved in coordinating the movement of muscles)

Is there a cure for ataxia?

Ataxia has no cure. There are no medications that can specifically treat and cure the symptoms of ataxias. However, medications may ease the symptoms by treating the underlying condition that causes the ataxia.

How can you treat spinocerebellar ataxia?

Treatment Options For Spinocerebellar Ataxia Certain Medications. Patients may need to use one or more medications to treat the symptoms caused by their disorder. Physical Therapy. Spinocerebellar ataxia patients may benefit from undergoing physical therapy as a part of their treatment plan. Use Of Adaptive Devices. Occupational Therapy. Speech Therapy.

Can ataxia telangiectasia be prevented?

Currently, there are no specific methods or guidelines to prevent Ataxia Telangiectasia, since it is a genetic condition Genetic testing of the expecting parents (and related family members) and prenatal diagnosis (molecular testing of the fetus during pregnancy) may help in understanding…

How is ataxia diagnosed?

Ataxia is diagnosed using a combination of a patient’s medical history, their family’s medical history, a detailed physical examination, and MRI scans and blood tests to rule out other disorders. There are genetic blood tests available for some forms of hereditary ataxia.