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GTR Home > Conditions/Phenotypes > Spinocerebellar ataxia type 6

Summary

Excerpted from the GeneReview: Spinocerebellar Ataxia Type 6
Spinocerebellar ataxia type 6 (SCA6) is characterized by adult-onset, slowly progressive cerebellar ataxia, dysarthria, and nystagmus. The age of onset ranges from 19 to 73 years; mean age of onset is between 43 and 52 years. Initial symptoms are gait unsteadiness, stumbling, and imbalance (in ~90%) and dysarthria (in ~10%). Eventually all persons have gait ataxia, upper-limb incoordination, intention tremor, and dysarthria. Dysphagia and choking are common. Visual disturbances may result from diplopia, difficulty fixating on moving objects, horizontal gaze-evoked nystagmus, and vertical nystagmus. Hyperreflexia and extensor plantar responses occur in up to 40%-50%. Basal ganglia signs, including dystonia and blepharospasm, occur in up to 25%. Mentation is generally preserved.

Genes See tests for all associated and related genes

  • Also known as: APCA, BI, CACNL1A4, CAV2.1, DEE42, EA2, EIEE42, FHM, HPCA, MHP, MHP1, SCA6, CACNA1A
    Summary: calcium voltage-gated channel subunit alpha1 A

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