Cerebellar ataxia is the most common type of ataxia encountered in clinical practice.
The cerebellum plays a crucial role in fine motor control and the regulation of voluntary movements. Therefore, cerebellar lesions can manifest as postural instability, a widened base of support while walking, swaying from side to side, inability to walk in a straight line, and an unsteady gait, often referred to as a "drunken" gait.
Due to impaired coordination, patients may struggle with complex and precise tasks such as dressing, buttoning clothes, or writing.
Cerebellar ataxia is frequently accompanied by nystagmus, decreased muscle tone, and dysarthria, with speech patterns that may be scanning or explosive in nature.
This condition is commonly associated with cerebellar vascular disorders, hereditary degenerative diseases, and space-occupying lesions of the cerebellum.