Introduction:
Spinocerebellar ataxia (SCA) is one form of spinocerebellar degeneration disorders, others of which include multiple systems atrophy and Freidrich’s ataxia (Kawai et al., 2009). SCA is a neurodegenerative condition with heterogenous presentations as more than 40 distinct genetic variations of SCA have been identified (SCA1, SCA2, etc.; Bhandari et al., 2023). The last/ most recently identified subtype is SCA48 (De Michele et al., 2020). Many SCA subtypes heavily affect cerebellar function, resulting in loss of voluntary muscle coordination (ataxia) for gait, eye movements, and speech (Bhandari et al., 2023). As SCA progresses, swallowing function becomes progressively more impaired due to declining motor and neurological functions.
The purpose of this resource is to highlight the disease progression and dysphagia assessment/treatment considerations. This resource is a brief overview intended to provide basic knowledge, and clinicians are encouraged to refer to the references provided for further reading and understanding of SCA.
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