Fall Prevention
Fall prevention is important for seniors Fall prevention for older adults is an important part of addressing one of the leading health concerns for people over the age of 60, which is falling, often related
CANVAS is an easy-to-remember acronym for cerebellar ataxia, neuropathy, and vestibular areflexia. There are only a very few patients reported who have the requisite combination of two rare clinical findings (cerebellar ataxia and vestibular areflexia), and the very common peripheral neuropathy. Patients with CANVAS have cerebellar ataxia (i.e., coordination problems — the CA), peripheral neuropathy (neuropathy– N), and loss of vestibular function (vestibular areflexia — the VA). This combination causes significant disturbances to balance, as each of these systems alone contributes to balance. Of course, when all are out at the same time, balance is much worse than when only one or two happen to be malfunctioning.
Additional Resources:
- VeDA’s Cerebellar Ataxia and Downbeat Nystagmus article.
- Click here to learn more about CANVAS from Dr. Timothy Hullar.
- Click here to learn more about CANVAS from the National Ataxia Foundation.
