Ataxia

Ataxia is a neurological condition in which the left and right sides of the body are not properly coordinated with each other. Ataxia has many known causes ranging from structural to toxic to nutritional. Childhood clumsiness may be a subclinical form of ataxia rather than normal developmental variance. Alcohol, lithium toxicity, mercury accumulation, and certain pharmaceutical drugs are recognized toxic causes of ataxia. Signs of ataxia include abnormal gait, difficulty with coordinated muscle movements, and inability to accurately judge distances.