Researchers have discovered a new treatment for one form of the rare disorder hereditary ataxia that has resulted in remarkable improvements, according to a study in the April 10 issue of Neurology , the scientific journal of the American Academy of Neurology. Hereditary ataxia is a genetic neurological disorder that affects coordination. Patients have difficulty with balance, coordination of arms and legs and speech.
Some patients also develop seizures.
The disease often causes deterioration of the cerebellum, the area of the brain that controls coordination. The researchers discovered that some patients with hereditary ataxia have a decreased level of coenzyme Q10, or CoQ10, in their muscles. CoQ10, also called ubiquinone, is a vitamin-like substance that plays a key role in the production of energy within cells. It is naturally present in small amounts in various foods. For the study, the researchers identified people with hereditary ataxia with no known genetic cause.