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 autosomal recessive 7



Other Names:
SCAR7; Childhood onset autosomal recessive slowly progressive spinocerebellar ataxia
Categories:
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Spinocerebellar ataxia autosomal recessive 7, also called SCAR7, is a slowly progressive hereditary form of spinocerebellar ataxia.  Symptoms of SCAR7 can include difficulty walking and writing, speech difficulties (dysarthria), limb ataxia, and a decrease in the size of a region of the brain called the cerebellum (cerebellar atrophy). Of the few reported cases in the literature, some patients also had eye involvement that included nystagmus (in voluntary eye movements) and saccadic pursuit eye movements.  Out of 5 affected siblings examined in a large Dutch family, 2 became wheelchair-dependent late in life. The severity of the symptoms varies from mild to severe.  SCAR7 is caused by mutations in the TPP1 gene and is inherited in an autosomal recessive manner.[1]  
Last updated: 9/16/2014

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
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HPO ID
80%-99% of people have these symptoms
Progressive cerebellar ataxia 0002073
30%-79% of people have these symptoms
Babinski sign 0003487
Broad-based gait
Wide based walk
0002136
Cerebellar atrophy
Degeneration of cerebellum
0001272
Clumsiness 0002312
Difficulty walking
Difficulty in walking
0002355
Diplopia
Double vision
0000651
Dysarthria
Difficulty articulating speech
0001260
Dysmetria
Lack of coordination of movement
0001310
Dysmetric saccades
Uncoordinated eye movement
0000641
Horizontal nystagmus 0000666
Hyperreflexia
Increased reflexes
0001347
Impaired vibratory sensation
Decreased vibration sense
Decreased vibratory sense
Diminished vibratory sense
Impaired vibratory sense
[ more ]
0002495
Limb ataxia 0002070
Oculomotor apraxia 0000657
Progressive gait ataxia 0007240
Saccadic smooth pursuit 0001152
Scanning speech
Explosive speech
0002168
5%-29% of people have these symptoms
EMG: neuropathic changes 0003445
Postural tremor 0002174
Percent of people who have these symptoms is not available through HPO
Ataxia 0001251
Autosomal recessive inheritance 0000007
Gait ataxia
Inability to coordinate movements when walking
0002066
Hypermetric saccades 0007338
Juvenile onset
Signs and symptoms begin before 15 years of age
0003621
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.

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


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

Social Networking Websites

  • Fighting for Maya, a blog in support of families affected by Spinocerebellar ataxia autosomal recessive 7.

Organizations Providing General Support


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.

In-Depth Information

  • 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.

Questions sent to GARD may be posted here if the information could be helpful to others. We remove all identifying information when posting a question to protect your privacy. If you do not want your question posted, please let us know.


  1. Spinocerebellar ataxia, autosomal recessive 7; SCAR7. Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man. http://omim.org/entry/609270. Accessed 9/16/2014.