Olivopontocerebellar atrophy

Injury	Disease	Nutrition	Poison

Symptoms	Surgery	Test	Special Topic

Central nervous system

Overview

Symptoms

Treatment

Prevention

Olivopontocerebellar atrophy

Definition:

Olivopontocerebellar atrophy is a neurodegenerative illness that causes certain brain areas (which may include the olivary nucleus, the pons, and the cerebellum) to shrink.

Alternative Names:

OPCA; Olivopontocerebellar degeneration

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

The cause of sporadic olivopontocerebellar atrophy is not known, but the disease is progressive. This condition can be inherited or affect people without a known family history (sporadic form). Symptoms tend to start sooner in people with the familial form. This disease is slightly more common in men than in women.

Review Date: 7/13/2004
Reviewed By: Joseph V. Campellone, M.D., Division of Neurology, Cooper University Hospital, Camden, NJ. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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