spinocerebellar disorder, an inherited disorder characterized by a progressive degeneration of the spinal cord and cerebellum, often involving other parts of the nervous system as well. These disorders tend to occur within families and can be inherited as dominant or recessive traits. Onset is usually early, during childhood or adolescence. No effective treatment is known. Kinds include ataxia-telangiectasia syndrome, Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, Dejerine-Sottas disease, Friedreich’s ataxia, olivopontocerebellar atrophy, Refsum’s syndrome.
