Zoghbi, in Swaiman's Pediatric Neurology (Sixth Edition), 2017 Nonhereditary Causes of AtaxiaĬerebellar disease can result from a number of underlying conditions, many of which are listed in Box 91-1. The characteristic ataxic, wide-based, staggering gait of the person intoxicated by alcohol is a reflection of cerebellar dysfunction.) 2.Ĭlumsiness in the arms: Does the patient have difficulty with targeted movements, such as lighting a cigarette or placing a key in a lock? (Cerebellar tremor is worse with voluntary, intentional movements that require accurate placement.) 3.īrain stem symptoms: Are brain stem symptoms present? (Because the cerebellar inflow and outflow must pass through the brain stem and the blood supply to the cerebellum arises from the same vessels that supply the brain stem, cerebellar disease is almost always accompanied by some brain stem abnormalities as well, and vice versa.) Questions, therefore, should focus on the following symptoms: 1.Ĭlumsiness in the legs: Does the patient have a staggering, drunken walk? (Most laymen describe cerebellar symptoms in terms of alcohol and drunkenness, probably because drinking alcohol impairs the cerebellum.
Cerebellar disease causes incoordination, clumsiness, and tremor because the cerebellum is responsible for smoothing out and refining voluntary movements.
