Cerebellar ataxia with neuropathy and vestibular areflexia syndrome (CANVAS) is a multisystem disease that affects cerebellar, sensory, and vestibular functions. Mostly, such ataxia might be inherited and occurs due to certain genetic disorders. It is also a extremely rare disease. It usually occurs in people aged between 40 and 50 years, and patients report sensory dysfunction and chronic dry cough. Simply put, canvas ataxia impacts a person’s daily life by disrupting the balance of the brain.
Symptoms of canvas ataxia
Signs of this disease usually develop over time. The various symptoms of canvas ataxia are the following:
Progressive imbalance
Progressive imbalance is a lack of coordination in the brain’s activities. This lack of coordination causes difficulty in walking or writing. As a result, postural hypotension also occurs, causing dizziness and fainting.
Sensory disturbance
Sensory disturbance is a disorder that disrupts the functioning of the six senses. This condition severely impacts vision, hearing, a sense of taste, and smell. This symptom leads to difficulty performing motor tasks such as eating or writing.
Oscillopsia
Oscillopsia is a vision abnormality that disrupts eye movement. This causes blurry vision and also affects the balance of the brain. Vestibular functions are absent as well.
Chronic dry cough
Dry cough is the most common symptom of canvas ataxia. It is also one of the first symptoms a patient experiences in the disorder’s early stages. This cough is usually chronic in nature.
Dysphagia
Dysphagia is experienced in the later stages of the disease. This symptom causes difficulty in swallowing food; a person needs more time to swallow their food and may have to opt for fluids since they are easier to swallow.
Causes of canvas ataxia
Canvas syndrome takes place primarily due to two factors – genetic and acquired. The various causes of canvas ataxia under these two factors are as follows:
Genetic factors
Some causes of canvas ataxia are genetic in nature. Researchers have presented a possibility that an inherited genetic mutation might affect the brain’s cerebellar column. These mutations and certain other genes may cause spinocerebellar ataxia (SCA), Friedreich’s ataxia, and episodic ataxia.
Acquired factors
Acquired factors directly affect the cerebellum column of the brain, which might cause canvas syndrome. These factors include conditions such as atrophy or shrinkage of the cerebellum, nerve damage, and more.
Management and remedies for canvas ataxia
Canvas disease can be managed by proper treatment. Some of the remedies for canvas ataxia that doctors employ are as follows:
Vestibular rehabilitation
Vestibular rehabilitation includes various exercises to improve motor activities. It helps in improving coordination, balance, gaze, and postural stability. Usually, a physiotherapist will prescribe the patient some exercises.
Speech pathology monitoring
Speech therapy helps an individual regain clarity in speech. A speech pathologist can provide exercises for individuals experiencing sensory disturbance in speech.
Management of dysphagia
A speech therapist also helps with exercises for managing dysphagia. Various swallowing techniques and throat exercises are used to correct dysphagia. Depending on the cause, the therapist can also make meal plan changes for the patient.
Neuropathic pain management
Neuropathic pain in the first stage is managed through prescription, including antidepressants. Other advanced prescription treatments and therapies are also undertaken for the management of canvas ataxia.
No extensive research is available on treating cerebellar ataxia with neuropathy and vestibular areflexia syndrome, and an effective remedy is yet to be discovered. However, a patient’s situation can be improved with the help of general neurological-specific treatment and a multidisciplinary approach. There is still hope for better remedial measures for canvas ataxia in the future.
