Spinocerebellar Ataxia Types 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, And 17

In any of these types of spinocerebellar ataxias (SCA), a different protein with an expanded glutamine repeat undergoes abnormal aggregation and deposition in susceptible neurons (for more information, see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trinucleotide_repeat_disorder). These proteins include ataxin 1, ataxin 2, ataxin 3, which is responsible for Machado–Joseph disease, the Cav2.1 P/Q voltage-dependent calcium channel, ataxin 7, and TATA-binding protein. SCA is difficult to diagnose as there are over 60 different types of this disease. It is a group of genetic diseases characterized by slowly progressive incoordination of gait and often poor coordination of hands, speech, and eye movements.