Cerebellar degeneration is not common.
It can occur due to progressive neurological diseases or brain damage, such as a stroke.
Symptoms of cerebellar degeneration include:
These symptoms are very noticeable with cerebellar degeneration.
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If cerebellar degeneration progresses, independence declines and can eventually be lost.
Causes
The causes of cerebellar degeneration are varied.
What these causes have in common is that they damage cells in the cerebellum.
Sometimes cerebellar degeneration occurs along with other types of brain damage or with systemic (whole-body) disease too.
They are often idiopathic (without a known cause), or some may be genetic.
Diagnosis
Cerebellar degeneration is diagnosed based on a combination of clinical examination and brain imaging.
Additionally, blood tests can help in identifying the cause.
Your evaluation would begin with talking to your healthcare provider about your symptoms and medical history.
You would have a complete physical examination, including aneurological exam.
Some notable physical abnormalities with cerebellar ataxia include nystagmus, poorly coordinated movement, and trouble walking.
Treatment
Since there are so many diverse causes of cerebellar degeneration, the treatments are varied.
The treatment for cerebellar symptoms of an acute MS exacerbation is typically high-dose steroids.
MS disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) are prescribed to prevent further exacerbations and additional declines in neurological function.
Paraneoplastic cerebellar degeneration is treated with surgical removal of the tumor.
In many cases, this improves the cerebellar symptoms or prevents the cerebellar effects from worsening.
Encephalitis may be treated with anti-inflammatory medications.
Complications
The ataxia because of cerebellar degeneration can increase your risk of falling and injuries.
Outlook
The underlying cause of your cerebellar degeneration is the main factor that determines the outlook.
Alcohol-associated cerebellar degeneration can stabilize if alcohol is discontinued, but the effects are not expected to reverse.
Cerebellar degeneration after a stroke should remain stable unless another stroke occurs.
Identifyingstroke risk factorsand beginning stroke prevention therapies is an important aspect of the recovery plan.
Neurodegenerative diseases, including MSA and CJD, are expected to decline, and can eventually be fatal.
Summary
Cerebellar degeneration is a rare neurological effect of a diverse array of serious neurological diseases.
It causes ataxia, coordination problems, and nystagmus.
Most of the time, cerebellar symptoms are diagnosed based on a physical examination.
Imaging tests and blood tests can help identify the cause.
Treatment often doesnt reverse cerebellar degeneration, but it may slow progression and help control symptoms.
Frequently Asked Questions
Some causes of cerebellar degeneration are fatal.
Encephalitis can cause a rapid decline.
Some people may recover from encephalitis, but it can be fatal within weeks.
Yes, cerebellar degeneration can cause dizziness.
These symptoms lead to a sensation of dizziness.
It is not always an effect of multiple sclerosis (MS), but it can be.
Sometimes MS can involve the cerebellum, and it may lead to degeneration of this region of the brain.
Cerebellar involvement can cause irregular movements of the eyes and body.
It depends on the cause.
It shouldn’t progress if it’s due to a single event such as a stroke.
Cerebellar degeneration can progress over the course of weeks when its sparked by a paraneoplastic syndrome.
It can progress over the course of years when its sparked by neurodegenerative disease.
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Cerebellar degeneration.
2022 May 9:jnnp-2021-328553.
