Answer :
Final answer:
Ataxic dysarthria is associated with Spinocerebellar Ataxia (SCA), a degenerative disease caused by genetic mutations resulting in abnormal protein aggregates that lead to neuronal death in the cerebellum, thereby affecting coordination and speech.
Explanation:
The degenerative disease associated with ataxic dysarthria is Spinocerebellar Ataxia (SCA). SCAs are a group of hereditary diseases that cause progressive damage to the cerebellum, leading to a wide range of symptoms including ataxia, which is the lack of muscle control or coordination of voluntary movements, and dysarthria, a speech disorder resulting from a muscular control disturbance. SCA results from mutations leading to abnormal CAG-repeat expansions in certain genes, which translate into long polyglutamine sequences in proteins. These abnormal proteins aggregate, forming misfolded protein deposits that are toxic to neuronal cells, eventually causing neuronal death in the cerebellum. This degeneration results in symptoms of poor coordination such as trouble with speech, walking, and balance.
Ataxic dysarthria is thus closely linked to the degenerative process in SCAs through the death of neurons in the cerebellum, impacting both movement and speech. It's a prime example of how genetics influence the pathology of neurodegenerative diseases, underscoring the intricate relationship between genetic mutations and neuronal function, particularly in disorders like SCAs where speech and movement become progressively impaired.
