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F. Palau and J. Arpa
proposed a classication of inherited ataxias based on clinical data and genetic information obtained from the family
history and genealogical pedigree. This author distinguished
congenital disorders associated with non-progressive ataxia,
ataxic disorders with known metabolic cause or defective
DNA repair, and ataxic disorders of unknown etiology, most
of them following a progressive evolution rate. The latter
group included early-onset cerebellar ataxias that usually
begin before the age of 25years (most of them with autosomal recessive inheritance, and currently referred to autosomal recessive cerebellar ataxias or ARCAs; some patients
may express symptoms after the age of 25 but usually before
40) and late-onset cerebellar ataxias (onset usually after
25 years), which includes autosomal-dominant cerebellar
ataxias (ADCAs), periodic autosomal-dominant ataxias (episodic ataxias, EA), and idiopathic late-onset cerebellar ataxias (ILOCA). In addition, hereditary ataxias also include the
group of mitochondrial diseases expressing ataxic symptoms
and the rare X-linked disorders. This classication has been
modied by gene discovery and the use of molecular genetic
diagnosis in clinical practice (Perlman 2022; Manto et al.
2020; Witek et al. 2021). Since the discovery of the rst
ataxia- associated genes SCA1 (spinocerebellar ataxia type 1)
and FXN (Friedreich ataxia) in the 1990s, the genetic denition of an ataxia has moved from the inheritance pattern criterion towards the gene characterization and single-gene and
genomic testing of the causative gene mutation. However,
clinical criteria remain relevant to orient the diagnosis of
patient with ataxia. An overview of phenotypes and genetics
of cerebellar ataxias can be seen at the Washington University
Neuromuscular Disease Center website (http://neuromuscu-
lar.wustl.edu/ataxia/aindex.html) and GeneReviews website
(Perlman 2022).
Electrophysiological studies, neuro-otology tests, neuroophthalmology tests, neuroimaging (e.g., magnetic resonance imaging—MRI), and cardiac studies are relevant on
diagnosis to dene the altered neural structures and heart
involvement. Biochemical and metabolic biomarkers and,
more recently, genetic testing of phenotype-oriented genes
or the search for gene mutations by next generation sequencing (e.g., exome or genome sequencing, but also a panel of
ataxic genes) may be necessary to conrm clinical diagnosis,
to perform a proper differential diagnosis and to provide
genetic counseling to patients and families.
From a didactic and practical point of view, in this chapter, we approach the diagnosis of cerebellar ataxias based on
the clinical phenotype (including age of onset), and genetic
criteria of Harding (1983, 1993). First, we discuss ataxia disorders from a genetic perspective, taking into account both
the inheritance pattern and the causative genetic genes, and
the pathogenic mechanisms of the disease, considering the
biological pathways in which the disease genes are involved.
In a second approach, we discuss the classication of ataxia
disorders based on clinical criteria that include the age of
onset and progression of the disease. We are distinguishing
between hereditary ataxias and symptomatic or acquired
ataxia (Anheim etal. 2012; Dürr 2010; Mancuso etal. 2014;
Palau and Espinós 2006).
79.2 Inheritance andGenetics
The hereditary ataxias are caused by mutations mainly in the
nuclear genome (nDNA) but also in the mitochondrial
genome (mtDNA); therefore, depending on the involved
genes and pathogenic variants, the disease can be inherited in
an autosomal recessive, autosomal-dominant, X-linked or
mitochondrial (maternal) manner (Witek etal. 2021). In the
last years, genomic studies have allowed the increase of gene
discovery in hereditary ataxias, so updating is a difcult task.
In the GeneReviews overview on hereditary ataxias based on
the type of inheritance, Perlman (2022, https://www.ncbi.
nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK1138/) summarizes the molecular
genetics characteristics, and clinical and phenotype features
of the different ataxias. The ve categories are (1) autosomal
recessive cerebellar ataxias (ARCA), which include 57
genes/loci, most notably because prevalence Friedreich’s
ataxia, ataxia- telangiectasia, ataxias with oculomotor apraxia
by AOA1 and AOA2, Niemann-Pick type C (NPC1), spastic
ataxia Charlevoix-Saguenay type (SACS or SPAX6), and
SYNE1- related cerebellar ataxia; (2) autosomal-dominant
cerebellar ataxias (ADCA), which include spinocerebellar
(SCA) conditions from SCA1 to SCA48, dentaterubral-pallidoluysian atrophy (DRPLA), and other conditions such as
GRID2- related spinocerebellar ataxia; (3) episodic-dominant
ataxias (EA), including nine forms associated with genes/
loci EA-1 to EA-9, episodic ataxia with neonatal epilepsy,
and CAPOS syndrome due to mutations in ATP1A3; (4) cerebellar ataxias linked to the X chromosome, with 7 clinical
entities; among them, there is the adult form of the fragile X
chromosome- associated ataxia/tremor syndrome (FXTAS)
that affects both men and women who carry a repeated
expansion of 50–200 CGG in the FMR-1 gene (Jacquemont
etal. 2003) (this is the gene that causes fragile X syndrome
in patients with a complete expansion greater than 200 CGG
repeats; (5) spastic ataxias, six forms of ataxias in which
patients also have spasticity along with cerebellar symptoms;
interestingly SPG7, which encodes the mitochondrial metalloprotease paraplegin, may be expressed with spasticity,
ataxia, or a combination of both, (Coarelli etal. 2019). In
addition, it is worth noting the progressive ataxias that are
sometimes associated with mutations in mitochondrial DNA
(mtDNA), such as the MERRF, Kearns-Sayre syndromes,
and NARP syndrome (neuropathy, ataxia, and retinitis pigmentosa). It should also be noted that there are many genes
that regulate mitochondrial function of which pathogenic

79 Genetics andDierential Diagnosis ofCerebellar Ataxias
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mutation can lead to autosomal recessive forms of ataxia.
This is the case of POLG-related ataxia neuropathy spectrum
(Schulte etal. 2009).
The Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM, www.
omim.org) catalog of phenotypes and genes offers another
way to identify the hereditary ataxias. The OMIM contains
phenotypic entries for most of the large groups of inherited
ataxias. There is an entry for the following clinical-genetic
series: (1) progressive ADCA under the name of spinocerebellar ataxias (SCA), which is how the different gene loci of
45 clinical-genetic forms are called (https://www.omim.org/
phenotypicSeries/PS164400); (2) episodic ataxias, with
autosomal-dominant inheritance, which include the nine EA
nosology categories (https://www.omim.org/phenotypic-
Series/PS160120); (3) ARCA is recognized as spinocerebel-
lar ataxias with recessive inheritance and includes 29 entries
series (https://www.omim.org/phenotypicSeries/PS213200);
however, the most frequent forms such as Friedreich ataxia,
ataxia-telangiectasia or ataxia with oculomotor apraxia 1 are
not included in the phenotypic series; (4) spastic ataxia, with
different Mendelian segregations (https://www.omim.org/
phenotypicSeries/PS108600); and (5) there are also specic
entries for some forms of congenital ataxias such as cerebellar ataxias with intellectual disabilities: Cerebellar ataxia,
mental retardation, and dysequilibrium, which have four
entries (http://omim.org/phenotypicSeries/PS224050) or
Joubert syndrome with agenesis or hypoplasia of the cerebellar vermis with 38 entries (https://www.omim.org/phenotyp-
icSeries/PS213300). This is not the case, however, for the
X-linked ataxias.
As with most of the genetic disorders, many ataxias are
caused by point mutations of the DNA sequence in the proper
gene. Such mutations may insert a new nucleotide or delete
a nucleotide in the sequence (indels variants) or substituting
one nucleotide for another. Depending on the localization
within the gene, the point mutations may replace one amino
acid in the protein with another (missense mutation), introduce a premature stop codon (nonsense mutation), alter the
triplet or codon reading (frameshift), affect splicing between
exon and intron by altering an existing splice site, affect
splicing by activating a cryptic splice site, or involve the promoter or another cis-acting regulatory sequence. However,
there is a peculiar type of mutation that affects many inherited ataxias, dynamic expansion mutations of a single- tandem
repeat (Depienne and Mandel 2021), often a trinucleotide
(Orr and Zoghbi 2007). This is the case for spinocerebellar
ataxias (ADCA) due to the expansion of a CAG triplet repeat
within an exon of several genes, the GAA trinucleotide
repeat within the rst intron in the FXN gene in Friederich’s
ataxia, the AAGGG pentanucleotide repeat expansion in
RFC1-related disorders (see Cortese etal. 2020), or the CGG
trinucleotide in the 5’-UTR region of the FMR-1 gene, associated with FXTAS.This type of mutation largely explains
the genetic anticipation phenomenon observed in dominant
ataxias, either autosomal or X-linked, when the expansion
exceeds a certain threshold of repetitions, which is gene and
disease specic. In the case of the FMR-1 gene, genetic
anticipation is observed in families segregating with the fragile X chromosome syndrome, which is expressed as intellectual disability. A schematic of the genes associated with
neurodegenerative disorders, including cerebellar ataxias
and the respective dynamic microsatellite expansions, is
shown in Fig.79.1.
Gene discovery of ataxia disorders is very useful for diagnosis and genetic counseling. It is also relevant to classify
disorders based on biological proles along with clinical features. Additionally, understanding the genetic basis of hereditary ataxias allows to dene specic pathways involved in
the cellular pathophysiology of ataxias and searching for
molecular druggable targets and new pharmacological or
biological therapies. For instance, in the case of autosomal
recessive cerebellar ataxias, gene and function discoveries
indicate four major clusters of shared molecular themes that
may become important for translational approaches
(Synofzik and Németh 2018; Synofzik etal. 2019; Vermeer
etal. 2011). They are (1) mitochondrial homeostasis that are
altered in diseases caused by mutations in nuclear genes
encoding mitochondrial proteins (e.g., FXN in Friedreich’s
ataxia, POLG-related ataxia disorders, COQ8A in cerebellar
ataxias associated with CoQ deciency, SPG7-related disorders such as spastic paraparesis and spastic ataxia); (2) DNA
damage repair (e.g., ATM in ataxia-telangiectasia, APTX in
AOA1, SETX in AOA2); (3) metabolic disorders such as
those involving complex lipid metabolism (e.g., CYP27A1 in
cerebrotendinous xanthomatosis, GBA1 in Gaucher disease,
PHYH and PEX7 in Refsum disease, NPC1 in Niemann-Pick
type C1); and (4) cilial disorders, with special mention to
Joubert syndrome (JBS) and related disorders.

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F. Palau and J. Arpa
EPM1
(CCCCGC
CCCGCG)
C9 ALS/FTD
(GGGGCC)n
n
start
HDL2
(CTG)n
codon
5’ 3’
(CGG)n
FMR1:
(CAG)n
SCA12
• FXS
• FXTAS
AFF2
intron
(GAA)n
FRDA
(CCTG)n
DM2
(GGCCTG)n
SCA36
(AAGGG)n
CANVAS/
RFC1
OPMD
(GCG)
(polyalanines)
n
(CAG)n
HD
SCA1
SCA2
SCA3/MJD
SCA6
SCA7
SCA17
DRPLA
(polyglutamines)
intron exon 3’UTR 5’UTR
(CTG)n
FECD
stop
codon
(ATTCT)n
SCA10
(TGGAA)n
SCA31
(CTG)
DM1
n
SCA8
Fig. 79.1 Dynamic mutations by expansion of microsatellite
sequences. ALS/FTD amyotrophic lateral sclerosis/fronto-temporal
dementia; CANVAS cerebellar ataxia, neuropathy, and vestibular areexia syndrome (RFC1 gene); DM1 myotonic dystrophy type 1; DM2
myotonic dystrophy type 2; DRPLA dentatorubral-pallidoluysian atrophy; EPM1 progressive myoclonic epilepsy 1A; FECD Fuchs corneal
endothelial dystrophy; FMR-1 gene on chromosome Xq28 (CGG
79.3 Clinical Phenotypes andAge at Onset
Based on the age at onset, we recognize four major categories: very early onset in infancy and young children (under
2years), childhood to early adulthood, and late onset after
the age of 25years. There is not a perfect division among
each age category, but it is realistic to take into account several considerations: (1) congenital ataxias are generally
non- progressive and are an unusual group of neurological
disorders (delayed motor development, very early-onset
cerebellar ataxia, hypotonia, and cognitive impairment),
with a heterogeneous clinical and genetic presentation,
often misdiagnosed as cerebral palsy (Raslan etal. 2021);
(2) most of very early-onset ataxias in children under 2years
used to be a developmental defect that segregate as an auto-
expansion associated with fragile X syndrome (FXS) and fragile X
tremor/ataxia syndrome FXTAS); AFF2 (FMR2) gene: intellectual
developmental disorder X-linked 109 on chromosome Xq28 (fragile X
syndrome type FRAXE); FRDA Friedreich ataxia; MJD
Joseph disease; SCA spinocerebellar ataxia; HD Huntington disease;
HDL2 Huntington disease-like 2; OPMD oculopharyngeal muscular
dystrophy
Machado-
somal recessive trait; (3) chronic early-onset ataxias in
childhood, adolescence and young adults under 25 years
(rarely after 40years) may be acquired or hereditary with
autosomal recessive, maternal inheritance or rarely X-linked
inheritance, and include progressive degenerative ataxias,
inherited metabolic diseases, and mitochondrial disorders;
(4) late-onset ataxias after the age of 25years may be hereditary, usually segregating as an autosomal-dominant trait
(less frequently as autosomal recessive and X-linked traits),
symptomatic as the consequence of different primary
acquired causes, or idiopathic. Among these idiopathic lateonset cerebellar ataxias, the cerebellar type (OPCA variant)
of multiple system atrophy (MSA) is an important diagnosis
(Klockgether 2010). A working diagram for differential
diagnosis is proposed in Fig.79.2.

79 Genetics andDierential Diagnosis ofCerebellar Ataxias
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Diagnosis Features of Cerebellar Ataxia
525
Age at Onset vs. Inheritance matrix
[with some examples of disease]
Extension and Evolution
Age at Disease Onset
Infancy
(<2 yr)
SCAR18
Rare
Arts syndrome
LS
UC defects
CS
Early-onset
(EO<25 yr)
FRDA
EO_SCAs
SCAX4
MELAS, MERFF
AVED, CTX
AT
Late-onset
(LO>25 yr)
LO_FRDA
SCAs, EAs
FXTAS
MELAS (<40yr), KSS
Rare
Rare
Cerebellar localization
•focal
• non focal. diffuse
Progression rate
(nonprogressive)
Hereditary:
•AR
•AD
•X-linked
•mitochondrial
•metabolic
•DNA repair
Congenital
JBS
Gillespie
XLAS/A
Not
DCMA
Not
•acute, rapid
Non genetic:
•symptomatic
Mode of Inheritance
•idiopathic
Viral cerebellar
encephalitis
Rare
Paraneoplastic cerebellar
degeneration
Cerebellar MSA
•chronic, slowly progressive
•chronic, stationary
clinical/neurological examination – electrophysiology – neuroimaging – biochemistry – genetic testing
Fig. 79.2 Diagram of clinical diagnostic criteria in cerebellar ataxias.
The drawing is designed in an attempt to integrate age at onset with
other clinical criteria in a working process. As wide overlapping exists
in cerebellar ataxias, the authors are aware that reality is more complex.
AD autosomal dominant; AR autosomal recessive; AT ataxia telangiectasia; AVED isolated ataxia with vitamin E deciency; DCMA dilated
cardiomyopathy with ataxia (3-methylglutaconic aciduria, 3-MGC);
EO early onset; LO late onset; CTX cerebrotendinous xanthomatosis;
CS Cockayne syndrome; EAs episodic ataxias; FRDA Friedreich ataxia;
FXTAS fragile X with tremor/ataxia syndrome; JBS Joubert syndrome;
KSS Kearn-Sayre syndrome; LS Leigh syndrome; MELAS mitochon-
drial encephalopathy, lactic acidosis, and stroke-like episodes; MERFF
myotonic epilepsy with ragged-red bers; SCAs spinocerebellar ataxias; SCAR18 spinocerebellar ataxia, autosomal recessive 18; SCAX4
spinocerebellar ataxia, x-linked 4; UC defects urea cycle disorders;
XLAS/A X-linked ataxia syndrome with anemia. Mitochondrial inheritance refers to disorders involving mitochondrial DNA genes that affect
oxidative phosphorylation
79.4 Congenital Ataxias
Congenital ataxias present with hypotonia, delay of motor
milestones and non-progressive cerebellar ataxia associated
with cerebellar malformation or cerebellar hypoplasia or
pontocerebellar hypoplasia. There are a large number of clinical pictures and syndromes (Perlman 2022; Mancuso etal.
2014; Raslan etal. 2021). Most of them are autosomal reces-
sive but a few are autosomal dominant or X-linked. Joubert
syndrome is a clinically and genetically heterogeneous group
of disorders (more than 38 genes) involving primary cilia,
characterized by hypoplasia of the cerebellar vermis with the
characteristic neuroradiologic ‘molar tooth sign,’ and accompanying neurologic symptoms: ataxia, intellectual disability,
oculomotor apraxia, dysregulation of breathing pattern, and
developmental delay. Among other rare disorders with cere-
bellar hypoplasia, it can be mentioned Gillespie syndrome
characterized by iris hypoplasia and cognitive impairment.
Specic structural pattern of cerebellar malformation can be
observed in cases of rhombencephalosynapsis, macrocerebellum, pontine tegmental cap dysplasia, and cerebellar dysplasia. Within the heterogeneous group of cerebellar
malformations, the Dandy Walker malformation stands out,
dened by an upward-rotating hypoplastic vermis, an
enlarged fourth ventricle, and an enlarged posterior fossa.
Most patients with Dandy Walker syndrome are sporadic,
although some mutations have also been described.
Pontocerebellar hypoplasia (PCH) is a heterogeneous group
of congenital ataxias characterized by cerebellar and brainstem hypoplasia, recognizing 13 genetic types. Its natural
history is variable and can have a progressive or nonprogressive course. Patients may show varying degrees of

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F. Palau and J. Arpa
dysmorphic features, microcephaly, optic atrophy, spasticity,
epilepsy, and movement disorders. Typical MRI ndings
include cerebellar and pons hypoplasia, frequently associated with the ‘dragony’ sign.
79.5 Cerebellar Ataxias inInfancy
andYoung Children (<2years)
Most of these are autosomal recessive, but a few are X-linked.
Autosomal recessive ataxias include ataxia with epilepsy and
intellectual disability, carbohydrate-decient glycoprotein
syndrome type 1c, opsoclonus-myoclonus-ataxia, ataxiaoculomotor apraxia plus cerebellar atrophy (SCAR18),
cerebro- renal syndrome (Birk-Landau-Perez syndrome),
Cayman ataxia, ataxia deafness (Lichtenstein-Knorr syndrome, SCAR19), Salla disease, or the X-linked disorders
associated with ataxia such as connatal PelizaeusMerzbacher, Arts syndrome, mental retardationmicrocephaly- epilepsy-ataxia (Angelman-like syndrome),
spinocerebellar ataxia and sideroblastic anemia, and Rett
syndrome. Metabolic ataxias in infancy include Hartnup disorder, argininosuccinic acidemia, citrullinemia, and biotinidase deciency (Fogel and Perlman 2007).
79.6 Cerebellar Ataxias inChildhood,
Adolescence, andYoung Adulthood
In childhood and young patients, viral cerebellar encephalitis
is the most frequent cause of acute ataxia. By contrast, progressive ataxia suggests an inherited ataxia likely with autosomal recessive inheritance, which may be suspected when
the disease affects two or more affected sibs or there is consanguinity (pseudodominant pattern also suggest recessive
inheritance) in the genealogical information provided by
parents or relatives. Friedreich ataxia (FRDA) is the most
frequent autosomal recessive cerebellar ataxia in Caucasians.
FRDA is a sensory and cerebellar ataxia with characteristic
clinical phenotype expressing both peripheral sensory neuropathy and spinocerebellar syndrome with signs of posterior columns dysfunction and dentate nucleus neuropathology,
dysarthria, heart disease, diabetes mellitus or glucose intolerance, and skeletal deformities. Genetic testing of FXN
gene provides denite diagnosis by demonstration of homozygosity of two GAA expanded alleles (98% of patients)
(Dürr etal. 1997), compound heterozygosity of one expanded
allele and one point mutation (2% of patients) (De Castro
etal. 2000) or, the recently described patient carrying two
bialleic missense point mutations (Candayan et al. 2020).
Based on prevalence, other ARCAs to be considered are
ataxia with ocular apraxia (AOA types 1, 2, 3 and 4), isolated
vitamin E deciency (AVED), abetalipoproteinemia (ABL),
autosomal recessive spastic ataxia of Charlevoix-Saguenay
(ARSACS), POLG-related ataxias (include mitochondrial
recessive ataxia syndrome—MIRAS, and sensory ataxic
neuropathy, dysarthria and ophthalmoparesis—SANDO),
cerebrotendinous xanthomatosis (CTX), autosomal recessive cerebellar ataxia 2 (ARCA2 or SCAR9), MarinescoSjögren syndrome (MSS), cerebellar ataxia with coenzyme
Q (CoQ) deciency (Anheim etal. 2012; Fogel and Perlman
2007; Palau and Espinós 2006; Vermeer etal. 2011; Synofzik
and Németh 2018; Gana and Valente 2020), and Peripheral
neuropathy—Hearing loss—Ataxia with cerebellar atrophy—Retinitis pigmentosa—Cataract (PHARC)
(Fiskerstrand etal. 2009). Both vitamin E and CoQ deciencies could be the consequence of gene mutations or secondary to acquired disorders such as disorders associated with
malabsorption syndrome in case of vitamin E deciency.
Among ataxias caused by defects in DNA repair are
ataxia-telangiectasia (AT)—the second most frequent ARCA
type–, ataxia-telangiectasia-like disorder 1, Cockayne syndrome (CS), xeroderma pigmentosum (XP), and
spinocerebellar ataxia with axonal neuropathy (SCAN1).
Cockayne syndrome and xeroderma pigmentosum show
locus genetic heterogeneity and may be diagnosed during
infancy. AOA1 and AOA2 pathogenesis also involve DNA
repair defects. AOA1 is the most ARCA form in Japan and
Portugal.
Inherited metabolic diseases with enzymatic biochemical
defects may also present with intermittent or progressive
ataxia. In some disorders, ataxia is a frequent sign but in others it is not relevant in the clinical picture. Most are autosomal recessive traits but X-linked inheritance may occur as
well. Metabolic ataxias usually begin in infancy or childhood. Metabolic ataxias in the childhood period (2–12years)
include carnitine acetyltransferase deciency, X-linked ornithine transcarbamilase deciency and other defects of the
urea cycle, Niemann-Pick type C disease, infantile Refsum
disease, and ataxia with selective vitamin E deciency
(AVED) caused by mutations in the TTPA gene. Clinical
metabolic entities in adolescence and adulthood are abetalipoproteinemia, hypobetalipoproteinemia, α-methylacyl-
CoA racemase deciency, cerebrotendinous xanthomatosis,
gamma-glutamyl cysteine synthetase deciency, adolescent
or young adult Refsum disease, and Wilson disease.
Mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS)
provides energy to most of the organs and tissues. Ataxia is
one of the major neurological symptoms of OXPHOS defects
due to mutations in the mitochondrial DNA, which become
symptomatic in childhood or young adulthood. Examples
manifesting with ataxia include MELAS syndrome (mitochondrial myopathy, encephalopathy, lactacidosis, stroke
syndrome), MERRF (myoclonic epilepsy with ragged-red

79 Genetics andDierential Diagnosis ofCerebellar Ataxias
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527
bers), NARP (neurogenic muscle weakness, ataxia, and
retinitis pigmentosa), and KSS (Kearns-Sayre syndrome)
(Fogel and Perlman 2007).
The Childhood Ataxia and Cerebellar Group of the
European Paediatric Neurology Society (Brandsma et al.
2019) provides a diagnostic algorithm for patients with
early-onset cerebellar ataxia. Along with clinical suspicion
and genetic testing for FRDA, imaging and laboratory criteria for differential diagnosis include brain MRI, blood analysis, and biochemical and metabolic biomarkers (e.g., plasma
vitamin E, alpha-fetoprotein), and genome testing by NGS
technologies.
79.7 Late-Onset Cerebellar Ataxias
A primary cause may be found in cerebellar ataxia with onset
after the age of 25years. The etiology may be genetic or
symptomatic because a gene mutation or an acquired disorder that is expressed with ataxia. However, the cause is not
evident in several sporadic patients, for which idiopathic
late-onset cerebellar ataxia is the working diagnosis.
While symptomatic ataxia may appear in infancy and
childhood (cerebellar tumors, metabolic deciencies and
immunological disease—e.g., opsoclonus/myoclonus syndrome), they are more frequent in adult individuals.
Symptomatic ataxias in adulthood may be caused by vascular disease, hypoxia, mass lesion (neoplasm, abscess, sarcoid
nodules), cervico-occipital hinge anomalies, hypothyroidism, hypoparathyroidism, vitamin deciency (B1, B12, E),
immune disease (acute cerebellar ataxia, paraneoplastic cerebellar degeneration, celiac disease, anti-GAD ataxia, multiple sclerosis, Bickerstaff encephalitis, Miller-Fisher
syndrome), infections (acute cerebellar encephalitis, meningitis, HIV, Whipple’s disease, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease),
drugs (e.g., ethanol, phenytoin, 5-uorouracil), metals (lead,
mercury, manganese, bismuth), toxics (toluene, methyl bromide, triorthocresyl phosphate), toxins (buckthorn fruit),
paroxysmal causes (epilepsy, migraine, fever, heat stroke),
and other systemic disorders (amyloid).
Most of the late-onset ataxias segregate as autosomaldominant cerebellar ataxias (ADCAs) (Dürr 2010). Two
major groups are recognized: spinocerebellar ataxias (SCAs)
with 45 dened genes/loci, and nine episodic ataxias (EAs)
plus CAPOS syndrome. The CAG trinucleotide expansion is
the major mutation in the most common forms of spinocerebellar ataxia, i.e., SCA1, SCA2, SCA3, SCA6, SCA7,
SCA12, SCA17, and DRPLA (dentatorubral-pallidoluysian
atrophy). Other nucleotide expansions are observed in SCA8
(CTG), SCA10 (ATTCT), SCA31 (TGGAA), SCA36
(intronic GGCCTG) (Fig.79.1), and SCA37 (pentanucleotide ATTTC repeat insertion in non-coding region) (Seixas
etal. 2017). The phenotypic classication by Harding (1993)
that categorized three clinical groups of ADCAs may be useful to perform an accurate genetic testing. ADCA type I
refers to ataxia plus impairment of other neuronal systems,
ADCA type II is ataxia plus retinal degeneration, and ADCA
type III is described as pure cerebellar ataxias. For ADCA
type I, the rst genes to be tested are SCA1, SCA2, and
SCA3. ADCA type II is exclusively associated with SCA7
mutations. Finally, for ADCA type III, SCA6 and SCA12
should be the rst genes to be analyzed. The most frequent
types of episodic ataxias are due to mutations in ion channels: EA-1 manifests without vertigo and is associated with
interictal myokymia, and EA-2 manifests with vertigo and is
associated with interictal nystagmus, and in these patients,
acetazolamide often dramatically stops the spells.
The eld of autosomal-dominant ataxias is recently
expanded to other phenotypes. One example is the STUB1related disorders, which include the autosomal-dominant
spinocerebellar ataxia SCA48in which patients suffer from
signicant cognitive impairment expressed as cerebellar
cognitive-affective syndrome (CCAS) in addition to ataxia
(Genis etal. 2018). CCAS patients have difculties with
executive function, affect regulation, linguistic processing,
and spatial cognition (Hoche et al. 2018). Interestingly,
STUB1-related ataxias are relatively frequent (7%) among
dominantly inherited cerebellar ataxias (Roux etal. 2020)
and was originally described as autosomal recessive cerebellar ataxia SCAR16 (Shi et al. 2013; Synofzik et al.
2014).
Non-autosomal-dominant inherited ataxias may present
in individuals older than 25 years. Among them are also
ataxia-laryngeal abductor paralysis-motor neuropathy and
cerebelloparenchymal disorder II (CPD II) and V (CPD V).
The fragile X tremor/ataxia syndrome (FXTAS) is a frequent
ataxic syndrome in adults and elderly people and is due to
short but abnormal CGG expansions in the FMR-1 gene classically associated with fragile X intellectual disability syndrome. Rarely, mitochondrial (e.g., cerebellar ataxia,
deafness, and narcolepsy syndrome) and metabolic ataxias
(e.g., hypobetalipoproteinemia, gamma-glutamyl cysteine
synthetase deciency) may become symptomatic in individuals older than 25years. In this way, it is very important to
recognize that FRDA may express rst symptoms in adult
individuals older than 40years. A recently recognized recessive disorder in adults is the RFC1-related disorder caused
by bialleic AAGGG pentanucleotide expansion on chromosome 4p14 (Cortese et al. 2019). The disease spectrum
encompasses from typical cerebellar ataxia of the extremities and gait, non-length-dependent sensory neuronopathy,
vestibular areexia syndrome (CANVAS) (Szmulewicz etal.
2011; Cortese et al. 2020b) to more limited phenotypes
involving predominantly or exclusively one of the systems
involved in balance control, autonomic dysfunction or cough
(Cortese etal. 2020a).

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Overview ofAtaxia inChildhood
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EugenBoltshauser
80
Abstract
In children, a wide number of hereditary or acquired diseases may cause ataxia. The prevalence varies signicantly in causes between pediatric and adult ataxia.
Pediatric ataxia may be classied as acute, progressive,
non-progressive, intermittent, and episodic. Cerebellar
dysfunction is the leading cause of pediatric ataxia, while
sensory and vestibular ataxias are less common in children. In congenital ataxias, developmental delays and
cognitive impairment are often clinically dominating. A
careful clinical history and neurological examination are
essential in classifying pediatric ataxia based on the
course of symptoms and involved systems and narrowing
the differential diagnosis. Neuroimaging plays a key role
in the further work-up of pediatric ataxia and may be
diagnostic or lead to further targeted investigations.
Genetic testing plays an increasing role but does not
replace history taking, clinical reasoning, and imaging
interpretation, and the diagnostic yield is still rather low.
Keywords
Ataxia · Children · Cerebellum · Acute · Progressive ·
Non-progressive · Cerebellar malformation · Joubert
syndrome
Ataxia is a relatively common disorder in children. Childhood
ataxia may have a genetic cause or be acquired. The duration
and dynamic of symptoms vary greatly and allow the classication of ataxia as acute, non-progressive, progressive, episodic, or intermittent. Additionally, pediatric ataxia may be
categorized by the affected system (e.g., cerebellum, sensory, and vestibular) or etiology (e.g., inammation, intoxication, and infectious). In children, cerebellar dysfunctions
E. Boltshauser (*)
Division of Pediatric Neurology (Emeritus), University Children’s
Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland
cause the majority of ataxia cases (Boltshauser and
Schmahmann 2012).
In this chapter, we discuss some general information
about the work-up of pediatric ataxia and review the most
common causes of pediatric ataxia. We classify pediatric
ataxia according to the duration and dynamic of symptoms
and affected systems. We refer to other chapters in this volume dealing with “Differential diagnosis of cerebellar ataxia
on the basis of age at onset,” “Autosomal recessive ataxias,”
and “Imaging of malformations of the hindbrain.”
80.1 Diagnostic Work-Up
A careful clinical history is essential. The age of the child
and nature of symptoms suggest different etiologies. The
temporal course of symptoms allows classifying ataxia as
acute, non-progressive, progressive, episodic, or intermittent. Taking the clinical history requires knowledge about the
potential differential diagnoses.
The neurological examination should include cerebellar
functions and other systems to reveal additional ndings
(“ataxia plus”). The neurological examination should be seen
within the context of the age of the child. In young children,
much of the neurological examination comes from observation. A brief general examination may provide somatic clues
such as organomegaly or cardiac involvement.
Further investigations including neuroimaging, different
laboratory assays, genetic analysis, electroencephalography,
and nerve conduction study may be needed. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) plays a key role in the diagnostic workup of ataxic children. MRI may provide the nal diagnosis in
cerebellar malformations or narrow signicantly the differential diagnosis in neurometabolic disorders. As for history taking, interpretation of imaging requires knowledge, according
to the manner of speaking “You look for what you know” and
“What you see depends on how you look.” High- quality image
acquisition and interpretation is a prerequisite.
© The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2023
D. L. Gruol et al. (eds.), Essentials of Cerebellum and Cerebellar Disorders, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-15070-8_80
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80.2 Acute Ataxia
In acute ataxia, symptoms develop over a few hours or a few
(1–2) days (Poretti etal. 2013). Acute postinfectious cerebellar ataxia (APCA) is the most common form. The onset of
symptoms follows a (mostly viral) infection. APCA is a selflimiting, pure cerebellar dysfunction with an excellent prognosis without treatment. The diagnosis is made clinically and
neuroimaging is usually not indicated.
Intoxication is the second most frequent cause and occurs
most commonly in young children (accidental ingestion).
Symptoms are accompanied by reduced level of consciousness of variable severity, seizures, and/or vomiting. Because
a history of ingestion or exposure may not be given, a high
index of suspicion is needed. Blood or urine analysis may
conrm the diagnosis.
Less common causes include cerebellitis, acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM), multiple sclerosis (MS),
cerebellar stroke, and opsoclonus-myoclonus syndrome
(OMS). A high index of suspicion is needed to recognize
OMS, a very rare autoimmune disorder characterized by
opsoclonus (not consistent), ataxia/myoclonus, behavioral
changes (irritability and sleep disturbances), and inconsistently associated with a neuroblastoma. Early immunemodulating treatment is the prerequisite for favorable
outcome (Sheridan etal. 2020).
Acute pediatric ataxia may be caused by dysfunction of
the vestibular and sensory systems. Vestibular migraine is the
most common cause of acute vestibular ataxia, while acute
unilateral vestibular dysfunction is rare. Acute sensory ataxia
is the presenting symptom in about 15% of children with
Guillain–Barré syndrome.
Table 80.1 Differential diagnosis of non-progressive cerebellar ataxia
Disease
NPCA outside a
dened syndrome
Cerebellar
malformations
Congenital oculomotor apraxia-type Cogan
Cerebellar
disruptions
Metabolic
disorders
mimicking NPCA
at onset
Infantile onset
progressive ataxias
that may mimic
NPCA at onset
White matter
disorders that may
mimic NPCA at
onset
Syndromes that
may mimic NPCA
at onset
Benign hereditary chorea (NKX2-1 gene)
Midline tumors in the posterior fossa
Autosomal recessive inheritance (genes:
VLDLR, CA8, ZNF592, KCNJ10, NEUROD1,
KIAA0226, WDR81, ATP8A2, WWOX);
several families with pedigree compatible
with autosomal recessive inheritance and
unknown gene
Autosomal dominant inheritance (genes:
ITPR1, CAMTA1, KCNC3, CACNA1A)
X-linked (genes: ATPB3, ABCB7)
Dandy–Walker malformation
Joubert syndrome
Rhombencephalosynapsis
Cerebellar hypoplasia
Unilateral cerebellar hypoplasia
Extreme prematurity
L-2-Hydroxyglutaric aciduria
Glutaric aciduria type 1
Congenital disorders of glycosylation Ia
Congenital disorders of glycosylation Iq
Pyruvate dehydrogenase deciency
Glucose transporter type 1 (GLUT1)
deciency
Ataxia telangiectasia
Infantile-onset spinocerebellar ataxia
Mitochondrial disorders
Marinesco–Sjögren syndrome
Vanishing white matter disease (early
childhood-onset form)
Hypomyelination and congenital cataract
4H syndrome
Rett syndrome
Angelman syndrome
80.3 Non-progressive Ataxia
Non-progressive ataxia refers to children with early (congenital) evidence of ataxia without progression on follow-up
(Table80.1). First obvious features of ataxia are preceded by
hypotonia and delayed motor (and often language) milestones. Ataxia is thus not “congenital” in the strict sense.
Non-progressive cerebellar ataxia (NPCA) may result from
inherited (genetic) and prenatal or neonatal acquired (disruptive) causes. A Malformation is a morphologic anomaly due
to an alteration of the primary developmental program
caused by a genetic defect. Gene mutations causing malformations may be “de novo” or be inherited following different
patterns that imply a different recurrence risk for further offspring. A Disruption is a morphologic anomaly due to the
breakdown of a body structure that had a normal developmental potential. Disruptive causes include, e.g., prenatal
infection and hemorrhage.
Cerebellar malformations may underlie NPCA, typical
examples are Dandy–Walker malformation (DWM), and
Joubert syndrome (JS). DWM is dened by (1) hypoplasia of
the vermis, which is elevated and upwardly rotated and (2) dilatation of the cystic-appearing fourth ventricle. A majority of
patients present before one year of age with hydrocephalus.
Ataxia is present in about one half of the patients. Terms such as
“Dandy-Walker variant” have been introduced to classify malformations that do not fulll the DWM criteria. These terms
lack specicity, are highly confusing, and should be avoided.
JS is dened by the presence of the “molar tooth sign”
(MTS), which is characterized by elongated, thickened, and
horizontally orientated superior cerebellar peduncles, a deep
interpeduncular fossa, and vermian hypoplasia. Children
with JS present with hypotonia, ataxia, ocular motor apraxia,
neonatal breathing dysregulation, and intellectual disability.
Systemic involvement (renal, eye, liver, and skeleton) may
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