National Center for Advancing and Translational Sciences Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center, a program of the National Center for Advancing and Translational Sciences

Spinocerebellar ataxia 14



Other Names:
SCA14; Spinocerebellar ataxia type 14
Categories:
This disease is grouped under:

The following summary is from Orphanet, a European reference portal for information on rare diseases and orphan drugs.
orphanet

Orpha Number: 98763

Definition
Spinocerebellar ataxia type 14 (SCA14) is a rare mild subtype of type I autosomal dominant cerebellar ataxia (ADCA type I; see this term). It is characterized by slowly progressive ataxia, dysarthria and nystagmus.

Epidemiology
The disease has been reported in more than twenty families from Europe, the United States, and Australia.

Clinical description
Onset is usually in early adulthood while symptomatic disease onset may be from 10 to 70 years (mean = 33.9 years). In addition to cerebellar signs, hyperreflexia and decreased vibration sense are frequently observed. Some patients have cognitive impairment, parkinsonism characterized by rigidity, as well as focal dystonia, axial myoclonus, facial myokymia, choreic movement of hands and epilepsy.

Etiology
SCA14 is caused by missense mutations in the PRKCG gene (19q13.4) encoding protein kinase C gamma (PKC-gamma).

Prognosis
Prognosis is good. Some patients need supportive devices such as a cane or wheelchair for gait impairment. However, several affected patients have lived beyond 80 years of age.

Visit the Orphanet disease page for more resources.
Last updated: 5/1/2011

This table lists symptoms that people with this disease may have. For most diseases, symptoms will vary from person to person. People with the same disease may not have all the symptoms listed. This information comes from a database called the Human Phenotype Ontology (HPO) . The HPO collects information on symptoms that have been described in medical resources. The HPO is updated regularly. Use the HPO ID to access more in-depth information about a symptom.

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Medical Terms Other Names
Learn More:
HPO ID
80%-99% of people have these symptoms
Gait ataxia
Inability to coordinate movements when walking
0002066
30%-79% of people have these symptoms
Abnormality of the Achilles tendon 0005109
Cerebellar vermis atrophy 0006855
Generalized hypotonia
Decreased muscle tone
Low muscle tone
[ more ]
0001290
Limb ataxia 0002070
Progressive cerebellar ataxia 0002073
5%-29% of people have these symptoms
Cognitive impairment
Abnormality of cognition
Cognitive abnormality
Cognitive defects
Cognitive deficits
Intellectual impairment
Mental impairment
[ more ]
0100543
Dysarthria
Difficulty articulating speech
0001260
Gaze-evoked nystagmus 0000640
Hyporeflexia of lower limbs 0002600
Myoclonus 0001336
Rigidity
Muscle rigidity
0002063
Saccadic smooth pursuit 0001152
Sensory impairment 0003474
Tremor 0001337
Percent of people who have these symptoms is not available through HPO
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
Attention deficit
Attention deficit disorder
Attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder
Attention deficits
Childhood attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder
[ more ]
0007018
Autosomal dominant inheritance 0000006
Cerebellar atrophy
Degeneration of cerebellum
0001272
Depressivity
Depression
0000716
Dysmetria
Lack of coordination of movement
0001310
Dysphagia
Poor swallowing
Swallowing difficulties
Swallowing difficulty
[ more ]
0002015
Facial myokymia
Involuntary facial quivering
0000317
Focal dystonia 0004373
Hyperreflexia
Increased reflexes
0001347
Impaired vibration sensation at ankles
Decreased vibration sense at ankles
Decreased vibration sense in feet
[ more ]
0006938
Incomplete penetrance 0003829
Memory impairment
Forgetfulness
Memory loss
Memory problems
Poor memory
[ more ]
0002354
Mental deterioration
Cognitive decline
Cognitive decline, progressive
Intellectual deterioration
Progressive cognitive decline
[ more ]
0001268
Nystagmus
Involuntary, rapid, rhythmic eye movements
0000639
Slow progression
Signs and symptoms worsen slowly with time
0003677
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Last updated: 7/1/2020

Making a diagnosis for a genetic or rare disease can often be challenging. Healthcare professionals typically look at a person’s medical history, symptoms, physical exam, and laboratory test results in order to make a diagnosis. The following resources provide information relating to diagnosis and testing for this condition. If you have questions about getting a diagnosis, you should contact a healthcare professional.

Testing Resources

  • The Genetic Testing Registry (GTR) provides information about the genetic tests for this condition. The intended audience for the GTR is health care providers and researchers. Patients and consumers with specific questions about a genetic test should contact a health care provider or a genetics professional.
  • Spinocerebellar Ataxia: Making an Informed Choice about Genetic Testing is a booklet providing information about spinocerebellar ataxia and is available as a PDF document on the University of Washington Medical Center Web site. Click on the title above to view this resource.

If you need medical advice, you can look for doctors or other healthcare professionals who have experience with this disease. You may find these specialists through advocacy organizations, clinical trials, or articles published in medical journals. You may also want to contact a university or tertiary medical center in your area, because these centers tend to see more complex cases and have the latest technology and treatments.

If you can’t find a specialist in your local area, try contacting national or international specialists. They may be able to refer you to someone they know through conferences or research efforts. Some specialists may be willing to consult with you or your local doctors over the phone or by email if you can't travel to them for care.

You can find more tips in our guide, How to Find a Disease Specialist. We also encourage you to explore the rest of this page to find resources that can help you find specialists.

Healthcare Resources


Research helps us better understand diseases and can lead to advances in diagnosis and treatment. This section provides resources to help you learn about medical research and ways to get involved.

Patient Registry

  • Coordination of Rare Diseases at Sanford (CoRDS) hosts a specific registry for patients with ataxia in partnership with the National Ataxia Foundation. The goal of the CoRDS registry is to connect as many patients and researchers as possible to help advance treatments and cures for rare diseases. The CoRDS registry is free for patients to enroll and for researchers to access.

Support and advocacy groups can help you connect with other patients and families, and they can provide valuable services. Many develop patient-centered information and are the driving force behind research for better treatments and possible cures. They can direct you to research, resources, and services. Many organizations also have experts who serve as medical advisors or provide lists of doctors/clinics. Visit the group’s website or contact them to learn about the services they offer. Inclusion on this list is not an endorsement by GARD.

Organizations Supporting this Disease


Living with a genetic or rare disease can impact the daily lives of patients and families. These resources can help families navigate various aspects of living with a rare disease.

Financial Resources


These resources provide more information about this condition or associated symptoms. The in-depth resources contain medical and scientific language that may be hard to understand. You may want to review these resources with a medical professional.

Where to Start

In-Depth Information

  • GeneReviews provides current, expert-authored, peer-reviewed, full-text articles describing the application of genetic testing to the diagnosis, management, and genetic counseling of patients with specific inherited conditions.
  • The Monarch Initiative brings together data about this condition from humans and other species to help physicians and biomedical researchers. Monarch’s tools are designed to make it easier to compare the signs and symptoms (phenotypes) of different diseases and discover common features. This initiative is a collaboration between several academic institutions across the world and is funded by the National Institutes of Health. Visit the website to explore the biology of this condition.
  • Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM) is a catalog of human genes and genetic disorders. Each entry has a summary of related medical articles. It is meant for health care professionals and researchers. OMIM is maintained by Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. 
  • Orphanet is a European reference portal for information on rare diseases and orphan drugs. Access to this database is free of charge.
  • PubMed is a searchable database of medical literature and lists journal articles that discuss Spinocerebellar ataxia 14. Click on the link to view a sample search on this topic.

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