Ask the Ataxia Expert with Dr. Perlman - January 2023

Every other month, NAF invites an expert to answer your questions about Ataxia. Dr. Susan Perlman of UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles joined us on January 16, 2023 to answer questions. The National Ataxia Foundation is proud to present this next installment in our Ask the Expert series.
To learn from other sessions with Dr. Perlman, visit www.ataxia.org/AsktheExpert
Ataxia is a rare neurological disease that can have a wide array of genetic origins.
For more information on Ataxia, please visit our website: www.ataxia.org
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About the Expert
Susan Perlman, MD is a graduate of Cornell University and the State University of New York at Stony Brook School of Medicine. She did an internship in medicine, her residency in neurology, and a two-year fellowship in Friedreich's Ataxia at UCLA Medical Center. Dr. Perlman is currently a Clinical Professor of Neurology and Director of the Ataxia Center at the UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles, CA. She has been head of the Ataxia Center at UCLA since 1983. She has worked in Ataxia diagnosis for over 30 years and has networked with other “Ataxologists” across the country and around the world, trying to build better collaboration in the development to treatments and ultimately cures. She helped develop the National Ataxia Database for clinical research. She is participating in 2 natural history studies (for dominant Ataxia and Friedreich’s Ataxia) and has participated in 7 clinical drug trials. Dr. Perlman would like to expand the work being done in non-genetic Ataxia as well. Dr. Perlman authored Evaluation and Management of Ataxic Disorders: An Overview for Physicians which has become a valuable resource for NAF.

[@jimmcconnell7328]

Thank you Dr. for taking the time to explain ataxia. There is a lot of important information here and ways of treating the condition.I’ve heard about stem cell therapy and wasn’t aware that it hasn’t proven to be effective in treating ataxia ,which is good to know. I have balance issues and find when I change my position or turn my head, I lose my bearings resulting in loss of balance. I strongly suspect that there is some vestibular involvement. My neurologist suspects a viral infection or perhaps a tumor that is causing my problems.

[@joshivrujesh4695]

Sir is there possible nearest future complete treatment for spinocerebellar ataxia3 available???

[@nizamrasool2664]

Madam my eight years child have got ataxia.
His body disbalance not to walk properly.
Hedoes notwalk straight

[@eunseo6994]

I wanna hear about a cure!!!sca2 I have

[@iankylem.8462]

My daughter who is 9 yrs old had an imbalance since she was two years old. But she was able to walk until 2019 before the pandemic. We consulted online that time and were advised to take maintenance of anti seizures for two years. Now she could not stand alone and cannot walk at all.

[@argentinarodriguez4170]

I was diagnosed on January 20th, 2023 with Cerebellar Ataxia after having a stroke initially misdiagnosed as ciatica.

[@leoyamaoka]

Hi how are you? Is there any progress to cure or treat FriedReich Ataxia ? Many thanks

[@chandrashekhark5836]

Urinary symptoms in Ataxia what is treatment

[@natasharoesch4470]

I have Cerebellar Ataxia and now have intense vertigo all the time. I guess I have late onset since I am 85. Dizziness is always there. Any help?