Spinocerebellar Ataxia 28

Spinocerebellar ataxia 28 (SCA28)is a slowly progressive movement disorder that typically begins in early adulthood (but can affect children and older adults as well). Early signs and symptoms include problems with coordination and balance when walking (gait ataxia), speech and swallowing difficulties (dysarthria), over-reactive reflex reactions in knees and ankles (hyperreflexia), weakness in the muscles that control eye movement (ophthalmoparesis), uncontrolled movement of the eye (nystagmus) and drooping eyelid (ptosis). The symptoms worsen very slowly over time. SCA28 is caused by changes in the AFG3L2 gene and is inherited in an autosomal dominant fashion. There is currently not a cure for SCA28, but treatments are available to help manage symptoms.