Spinocerebellar Ataxia

Posted By Judy on August 04, 1998 at 10:06:36:







My mom and some of her brothers and sister have spinocerebellar ataxia.  So far,the doctor has not been able to prescribe anything to help with her falling.  She may go for 3-6 months without any major problems, but then she falls, has trouble with bowel/bladder control and seems to go downhill - never quite getting back to the point she was before she fell.  Her memory is pretty good considering she is 76, but her gait is very unsteady, as is her hand coordination.  She has just recently begun taking a daily regimen of acetylcystene and vitamin/mineral supplements.  Also, she is currently on Premarin and a bladder control medication.  Naturally, my brothers, me, and my cousins are concerned about the heredity of this disease.  My mom's father also had the symptoms of this but was never diagnosed.  He died around age 70-75 and was in a nursing home, without any cognizance or control of any bodily functions.  Do you know of any testing or research that is being done, or has been done, from which we might benefit?