What is Friedreich Ataxia

Friedreich Ataxia (FRDA) was named after Nikolaus Friedreich, who first described it in 1863. It was the first form of hereditary Ataxia to be distinguished from other forms of Ataxia. It is caused by an abnormality of a single gene called the Frataxin (FXN) gene. The abnormality can be passed from generation to generation by family members who carry it. Two copies of each gene are inherited; one copy from the mother and one copy from the father. An individual who has one copy of an altered or nonfunctioning FXN gene does not develop any neurological symptoms and is called a carrier.