Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsCausesDiagnosisTreatmentComplicationsOutlookFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Symptoms
Causes
Diagnosis
Treatment
Complications
Outlook
Frequently Asked Questions
Cerebellar degeneration is a type of damage to thecerebellum, which is the area ofthe brainthat controls balance and coordination. Cerebellar degeneration is not common. It can occur due to progressive neurological diseases or brain damage, such as a stroke.
Some types of cerebellar ataxia can be treated, and any type of cerebellar degeneration requires medical care, physical therapy, and supportive devices to help improve motor control and to prevent injuries.
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Symptoms of Cerebellar Degeneration
Degeneration of the cerebellum can cause a variety of symptoms associated with impaired coordination. You can have some or all of the symptoms, and they can develop rapidly or gradually over time.
Symptoms of cerebellar degeneration include:
These symptoms are very noticeable with cerebellar degeneration. This makes it difficult to manage day-to-day life, including things like self-care, eating, walking, climbing stairs, or carrying objects. If cerebellar degeneration progresses, independence declines and can eventually be lost.
What Does Hypoplasia Mean?
Sometimes cerebellar degeneration occurs along with other types of brain damage or with systemic (whole-body) disease too.
Causes include:
Risk FactorsRisk factors of cerebellar disease include alcohol use disorder, MS, certain types of cancer, and cardiovascular disease.
Risk Factors
Risk factors of cerebellar disease include alcohol use disorder, MS, certain types of cancer, and cardiovascular disease.
What Is Acute Cerebellar Ataxia?
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.
Other features, such as muscle strength, sensation, and reflexes, would reflect the underlying cause, such as a stroke or MS.
You would likely have abrain imaging test, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), which provides good visualization of the cerebellum.You might also have blood tests, such as tests for paraneoplastic antibodies.
Since there are so many diverse causes of cerebellar degeneration, the treatments are varied. Anyone who has cerebellar ataxia, regardless of the cause, could benefit from physical therapy and safety measures to prevent injuries.
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.
A stroke is a medical emergency, and sometimes immediate treatment with a blood thinner or medical stabilization can minimize the long-term damage.
When the underlying cause is progressive and cannot be treated, such as MSA and CJD, treatment may include medication to prevent involuntary movements or medications to reduce pain from muscle spasticity.
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.
The outlook of cerebellar involvement of MS depends on the overall disease course, and symptoms may improve or can persist for the long term.
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 doesn’t reverse cerebellar degeneration, but it may slow progression and help control symptoms.
A Word From Verywell
Cerebellar degeneration is not common, and the causes are serious, so a diagnosis can be alarming and isolating.
Make sure you talk to your medical team about getting support such as physical therapy, occupational therapy, and additional caregiver support as needed. This can help you with your health needs and to figure out how to get around your home and other places safely.
It may also help to reach out to a support group so you can connect with others who are having the same experiences and challenges as you.
Some causes of cerebellar degeneration are fatal. For example, multisystem atrophy (MSA) and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease are progressive neurological disorders that are not treatable and are fatal within a few years.Encephalitis can cause a rapid decline. Some people may recover from encephalitis, but it can be fatal within weeks.
Some causes of cerebellar degeneration are fatal. For example, multisystem atrophy (MSA) and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease are progressive neurological disorders that are not treatable and are fatal within a few years.
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. In general, the most noticeable symptoms of cerebellar degeneration are described as balance problems, coordination problems, and eye movement abnormalities. 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.
5 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Cerebellar degeneration.Horn MJ, Gokcal E, Becker AJ, et al.Cerebellar atrophy and its implications on gait in cerebral amyloid angiopathy.J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 2022 May 9:jnnp-2021-328553. doi:10.1136/jnnp-2021-328553Wakabayashi K, Miki Y, Tanji K, Mori F.Neuropathology of multiple system atrophy, a glioneuronal degenerative disease.Cerebellum.2022 Apr 26. doi:10.1007/s12311-022-01407-2Tornes L, Conway B, Sheremata W.Multiple sclerosis and the cerebellum.Neurol Clin.2014;32(4):957-77. doi:10.1016/j.ncl.2014.08.001Beez T, Munoz-Bendix C, Mijderwijk HJ, Remke M, Hänggi D.Structural damage burden and hypertrophic olivary degeneration in pediatric postoperative cerebellar mutism syndrome.Neurosurg Rev. 2022 Apr 20. doi:10.1007/s10143-022-01791-7
5 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Cerebellar degeneration.Horn MJ, Gokcal E, Becker AJ, et al.Cerebellar atrophy and its implications on gait in cerebral amyloid angiopathy.J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 2022 May 9:jnnp-2021-328553. doi:10.1136/jnnp-2021-328553Wakabayashi K, Miki Y, Tanji K, Mori F.Neuropathology of multiple system atrophy, a glioneuronal degenerative disease.Cerebellum.2022 Apr 26. doi:10.1007/s12311-022-01407-2Tornes L, Conway B, Sheremata W.Multiple sclerosis and the cerebellum.Neurol Clin.2014;32(4):957-77. doi:10.1016/j.ncl.2014.08.001Beez T, Munoz-Bendix C, Mijderwijk HJ, Remke M, Hänggi D.Structural damage burden and hypertrophic olivary degeneration in pediatric postoperative cerebellar mutism syndrome.Neurosurg Rev. 2022 Apr 20. doi:10.1007/s10143-022-01791-7
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Cerebellar degeneration.Horn MJ, Gokcal E, Becker AJ, et al.Cerebellar atrophy and its implications on gait in cerebral amyloid angiopathy.J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 2022 May 9:jnnp-2021-328553. doi:10.1136/jnnp-2021-328553Wakabayashi K, Miki Y, Tanji K, Mori F.Neuropathology of multiple system atrophy, a glioneuronal degenerative disease.Cerebellum.2022 Apr 26. doi:10.1007/s12311-022-01407-2Tornes L, Conway B, Sheremata W.Multiple sclerosis and the cerebellum.Neurol Clin.2014;32(4):957-77. doi:10.1016/j.ncl.2014.08.001Beez T, Munoz-Bendix C, Mijderwijk HJ, Remke M, Hänggi D.Structural damage burden and hypertrophic olivary degeneration in pediatric postoperative cerebellar mutism syndrome.Neurosurg Rev. 2022 Apr 20. doi:10.1007/s10143-022-01791-7
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Cerebellar degeneration.
Horn MJ, Gokcal E, Becker AJ, et al.Cerebellar atrophy and its implications on gait in cerebral amyloid angiopathy.J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 2022 May 9:jnnp-2021-328553. doi:10.1136/jnnp-2021-328553
Wakabayashi K, Miki Y, Tanji K, Mori F.Neuropathology of multiple system atrophy, a glioneuronal degenerative disease.Cerebellum.2022 Apr 26. doi:10.1007/s12311-022-01407-2
Tornes L, Conway B, Sheremata W.Multiple sclerosis and the cerebellum.Neurol Clin.2014;32(4):957-77. doi:10.1016/j.ncl.2014.08.001
Beez T, Munoz-Bendix C, Mijderwijk HJ, Remke M, Hänggi D.Structural damage burden and hypertrophic olivary degeneration in pediatric postoperative cerebellar mutism syndrome.Neurosurg Rev. 2022 Apr 20. doi:10.1007/s10143-022-01791-7
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