What is gait apraxia?
Gait apraxia is the inability to execute basic walking functions. The person cannot walk, and cannot make walking movements with their legs. This is not based on physical weakness or sensory impairment.
Apraxia, generally speaking, is a neurological disorder where there is an inability to act out familiar movements. The person understands the command, they want to perform it, and they are physically able to perform it, but their bodies will not cooperate. Because executive function is damaged.
Gait apraxia can be a marker for certain diseases or syndromes. This diagnosis also depends on other accompanying features.
Understanding nervous system-related symptoms and features.
Symptoms may affect multiple parts of the body. Understanding which part of the body a symptom affects, can help us to better understand the potential underlying causes of a symptom, including a rare disease or genetic syndrome.
The nervous system is made up of a network of nerves and cells that carry messages to and from both the brain and the spinal cord. Within the nervous system are the Central nervous system and the Peripheral nervous system.
The brain and spinal cord make up the central nervous system.
Within the peripheral nervous system are the somatic and autonomic nervous systems. The somatic system controls responses to sensory stimuli, while the autonomic nervous system controls the inner workings of organs, including digestion, breathing and the heartbeat.
Sleep is one body function, controlled by the autonomic nervous system, specifically the sympathetic nervous system.
What should I do next?
In some instances, gait apraxia may be one of the features of a rare disease or genetic syndrome. To find out if someone with Gait Apraxia, may be due to a genetic syndrome, it is important to have a consultation and evaluation with a clinical genetic specialist. Specialists may also suggest specific genetic testing or other types of tests to help reach a diagnosis. FDNA’s AI technology can help speed up the diagnostic process by analyzing facial features and other health information.