Major ethical, legal, and/or social implications for parents, future children, friends, and family with the diagnosis:

Treatments or cures:

- Unaffected siblings don't receive direct benefits from research themselves

- Family members may be required to give blood samples

- Parents have a 25% chance of having another child with A-T

- No cure currently

- No way to slow the progression of the disease

- Treatment is symptomatic and supportive

- Physical and occupational therapy help maintain flexibility

- Speech therapy is important, teaching children to control air flow on the vocal chords

- Gamma-globulin injections may be useful if immonuglobulin levels are sufficiently reduced to weaken the immune system

- High-dose vitamin regimens and antioxidants such as alpha lipoid acid also may be used