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Living with Autosomal recessive cerebellar ataxia-saccadic intrusion syndrome

An inherited condition with balance problems and jerky eye movements that worsen over time.

Understanding Autosomal recessive cerebellar ataxia-saccadic intrusion syndrome

Autosomal recessive cerebellar ataxia-saccadic intrusion syndrome is a rare inherited ataxia with slowly worsening balance problems and unusual eye movements.

People have slowly worsening unsteadiness in walking, the trunk, and the limbs. Eyes overshoot when they jump from one point to another, which disrupts steady gaze. Other features include unclear speech, muscle twitches, nerve damage affecting feeling and movement, and high-arched feet. Onset can happen at a variety of ages.

Signs & symptoms

Symptoms vary from person to person. GARD lists these among the most common:

  • Slowly worsening balance problems (ataxia)
  • Unsteady walk
  • Overshooting eye movements (saccades)
  • Unclear speech (dysarthria)
  • Nerve damage affecting feeling and movement
  • High-arched feet (pes cavus)

Not everyone has every symptom. GARD's list comes from the Human Phenotype Ontology.

Diagnosis

  1. Talk with your doctor

    Share the symptoms you've noticed, when they started and your family health history. Notes and photos can help.

  2. See a specialist

    Specialists who may be involved include brain and nervous system specialists and genetic specialists.

  3. Consider genetic testing

    Changes in VPS13D are linked to this condition. Genetic testing and counseling can help confirm a diagnosis and explain what it means for your family.

  4. Connect with expert centers

    National Ataxia Foundation may keep lists of experts for this condition.

Care & treatment

Care team
Brain and nervous system specialists (neurologists); Genetic specialists (geneticists)
Expert care
Expert lists: National Ataxia Foundation
Treatment
GARD doesn't list specific treatments for this condition. Your care team will tailor care to your symptoms.
Research
Clinical trials and observational studies may be options. See the research section below.

General information, not medical advice. Your care team makes the decisions.

Everyday life

Living with a rare condition is easier with support.

  • Connect with National Ataxia Foundation
  • Keep notes on symptoms, changes and questions for appointments
  • Ask about patient registries that help research
  • Look into financial aid and travel resources for care visits
Bring these questions to your next doctor visit
Can genetic testing for the VPS13D gene confirm the diagnosis?
Which specialists should follow movement and eye problems?
Could therapy help with balance and speech?

Quick facts

Symptoms usually starta variety of ages
InheritanceAutosomal Recessive
GenesVPS13D

It is caused by changes in the VPS13D gene. It is autosomal recessive, so a child inherits a changed copy of the gene from each parent.

GeneticNeurological

Also known as: autosomal recessive cerebellar ataxia-movement disorder syndrome; scar4; scasi; spinocerebellar ataxia 24; spinocerebellar ataxia with saccadic intrusions

Patient organizations

Broader rare-disease groups

Source: NIH GARD · Autosomal recessive cerebellar ataxia-saccadic intrusion syndromeGARD ID 4952 · GARD page updated September 2026 · Plain-language summary by Know Rare; editorial review pending. General information, not medical advice.

You are more than your diagnosis

Perspectives from people navigating life with Autosomal recessive cerebellar ataxia-saccadic intrusion syndrome.

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