Raising Awareness for SCA1

I’m Sydney Blake, a high school student dedicated to spreading awareness about SCA1, a neurodegenerative disease affecting my family. Join us in sharing stories and supporting vital research. This platform features personal stories from those impacted by SCA1, along with opportunities to donate and support ongoing research efforts. If you or your friends/family are affected by SCA1, please share your story in the contact information at the bottom of the website.

Our Mission Matters

Symptoms of SCA1: A Basic Overview

Spinocerebellar ataxia type 1 (SCA1) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by progressive problems with movement and coordination. Early symptoms often include slurred speech, gait abnormalities, imbalance, and mild dysphagia. Mild dysphagia is characterized by difficulty swallowing, which can cause food to move more slowly through the esophagus. As the disease progresses, additional symptoms may appear, such as dysdiadochokinesia, dysmetria, and cognitive impairments like difficulty making decisions. Dysdiadochokinesia (pronounced duhs-dai-uh-duh-koh-kuh-nee-zhuh) refers to the inability to perform rapid, alternating movements, a sign of cerebellar dysfunction that affects motor control. Dysmetria is a neurological condition involving poor coordination and an inability to judge distances or movement accurately. Individuals may overshoot or undershoot targets and struggle with balance, walking, and tasks requiring fine motor skills.

Citations:

Opal, P., & Ashizawa, T. (2023). Spinocerebellar ataxia type 1. In GeneReviews® (updated Feb. 2, 2023). University of Washington, Seattle. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20301363/

Contact Us

We would love to hear from you! Reach out for support, share your story on the website, or inquire about donations for SCA1 research.

If you would like to attach a picture with your story/message, send it to the email down below.

Connect

773-720-4388

sblake@hopeforsca1.org