When a loved one is diagnosed with an unfamiliar condition like cerebellar atrophy, it may be difficult to find concise information about the condition.

This article will briefly explore the definition of cerebellar atrophy, symptoms associated with cerebellar atrophy, cerebellar atrophy causes and will highlight the pharmaceutical drug that has been linked to the development of cerebellar atrophy.

Cerebellar Atrophy Definition

Cerebellar atrophy is a degeneration, wasting, or progressive loss, of brain cells in the cerebellum. The brain cells in the area shrink and die, and the connections between the cells are lost.

The cerebellum is the part of the brain that is responsible for controlling balance and coordination. When there is atrophy in the cerebellum, a number of bodily processes can be affected.

Cerebellar is considered a type of focal cerebral atrophy. In a focal cerebral atrophy, only a certain part of the brain is affected, as opposed to the whole brain, as is the case in generalized cerebral atrophy.

The cerebellar atrophy definition is very specific to degeneration of just the cerebellum in the brain, though some resources may use the terms cerebellar atrophy and cerebral atrophy interchangeably.

Symptoms of Cerebellar Atrophy

The symptoms of cerebellar atrophy are reflected as disruptions of the body’s balance and coordination symptoms.

One way to consider the effects of atrophy of the cerebellum is to look at alcohol’s effect on the cerebellum when excess alcohol intake has occurred. Alcohol affects the cerebellum directly, so many of the symptoms look quite similar.

Symptoms of cerebellar atrophy include:

• Cognitive and mood difficulties
• Difficulty maintaining upright posture
• Difficulty with fine motor coordination
• Fatigue while performing normal activities (patients say they need to “concentrate on” movements)
• Nystagmus- small, rapid eye movements back and forth
• Slow, unsteady, jerky movements of the arms or legs
• Slowed or slurred speech
• Staggering, tripping, falling or unsteadiness while walking
• Unsteady gait

Cerebellar Atrophy Causes

A number of different cerebellar atrophy causes have been identified, from genetic to environmental.

Some cerebellar degeneration can be inherited and present at birth. Many of these disorders can be mapped to specific genes through comprehensive genetic testing.

Auto antibodies may also cause degeneration of the cerebellum. Certain autoimmune disorders may cause the body to create antibodies that attack the cerebellum. In the case of Celiac disease, also known as gluten enteropathy, can cause antibodies to attack brain cells located within the cerebellum.

Lesions on the brain, such as those caused by strokes, tumors, and multiple sclerosis may cause cerebellar degeneration if the lesions are located within the cerebellum.

The final class of causes of cerebellar degeneration is toxins. Ethanol, a grain alcohol, chemotherapy and anticonvulsant drugs have been named as environmental cerebellar atrophy causes.

One such drug that has been shown to have a strong link to the development of cerebellar atrophy is an anticonvulsant medication called Dilantin (phenytoin).

Dilantin Side Effects

When taking the popular drug Dilantin for treatment of seizures and also for a variety of psychological conditions, most patients are not aware that their brain can be negatively affected from the treatment that is so helpful for them in another area of their life.

A number of research studies have linked Dilantin use to the development of cerebellar atrophy. For some patients, stopping the drug may reverse the symptoms of cerebellar atrophy. For others, however, the damage appears to be permanent.

If you have developed symptoms of cerebellar atrophy and feel that you were not properly warned of severe potential Dilantin side effects prior to using Dilantin, you may be eligible for legal compensation.

A lawyer can review your case at no charge and can help you determine if taking legal action is right for you.