Initial diagnosis of<unk> s relies upon family history, the presence or absence of additional signs and the exclusion of other nongenetic causes of<unk> ity, the latter being particular important in sporadic cases. Cerebral and spinal MRI is an important procedure performed in order to rule out other frequent neurological conditions, such as multiple sclerosis, but also to detect associated abnormalities such as cerebellar or corpus callosum atrophy as well as white matter abnormalities. Differential diagnosis of<unk>  should also exclude<unk>  diplegia which presents with nearly identical day-to-day effects and even is treatable with similar medicines such as baclofen and orthopedic surgery; at times, these two conditions may look and feel so similar that the only perceived difference may be<unk> 's<unk>  nature versus the explicitly non-hereditary nature of<unk>  diplegia (however, unlike<unk>  diplegia and other forms of<unk>  cerebral palsy,<unk>  cannot be reliably treated with selective dorsal rhizotomy). Ultimate confirmation of<unk>  diagnosis can only be provided by carrying out genetic tests targeted towards known genetic mutations. Classification<unk> s can be classified based on the symptoms; mode of inheritance; the patient's age at onset; the affected genes; and biochemical pathways involved.
Hereditary spastic paraplegia
Spinal muscular atrophy
Madras motor neuron disease
Tropical ataxic neuropathy
Spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy
Autosomal recessive cerebellar ataxia type 1
Distal hereditary motor neuronopathies
Congenital distal spinal muscular atrophy