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Living with Spinocerebellar ataxia type 30

An inherited condition starting in later adulthood with slowly worsening balance and coordination problems.

Understanding Spinocerebellar ataxia type 30

Spinocerebellar ataxia type 30 (SCA30) is a dominantly inherited cerebellar ataxia with slowly worsening, fairly pure ataxia.

People have poor coordination when walking and with their limbs, and slurred speech. It starts in adulthood or later.

Signs & symptoms

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

  • Poor coordination when walking
  • Poor limb coordination
  • Slurred speech (dysarthria)
  • Shrinking of the cerebellar vermis (less common)
  • Jerky eye movements (less common)

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. Ask which tests can help

    Your care team will decide which exams and tests can confirm the diagnosis.

  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 help confirm this diagnosis?
What therapies can help with balance and speech?
Should family members consider genetic counseling?

Quick facts

Symptoms usually startAdult and as an Older Adult
InheritanceAutosomal Dominant

GARD doesn't list a gene. It is inherited in an autosomal dominant pattern, meaning one changed copy of a gene is enough.

GeneticNeurological

Also known as: sca30

Patient organizations

Broader rare-disease groups

Source: NIH GARD · Spinocerebellar ataxia type 30GARD ID 4950 · 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 Spinocerebellar ataxia type 30.

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  • Recruiting studies from ClinicalTrials.gov
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