Spinocerebellar ataxia type 1 (SCA1) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by progressive problems with movement and coordination. Early symptoms often include slurred speech, gait abnormalities, imbalance, and mild dysphagia. Mild dysphagia is characterized by difficulty swallowing, which can cause food to move more slowly through the esophagus. As the disease progresses, additional symptoms may appear, such as dysdiadochokinesia, dysmetria, and cognitive impairments like difficulty making decisions. Dysdiadochokinesia (pronounced duhs-dai-uh-duh-koh-kuh-nee-zhuh) refers to the inability to perform rapid, alternating movements, a sign of cerebellar dysfunction that affects motor control. Dysmetria is a neurological condition involving poor coordination and an inability to judge distances or movement accurately. Individuals may overshoot or undershoot targets and struggle with balance, walking, and tasks requiring fine motor skills.
Citations:
Opal, P., & Ashizawa, T. (2023). Spinocerebellar ataxia type 1. In GeneReviews® (updated Feb. 2, 2023). University of Washington, Seattle. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20301363/
