Friedreich's ataxia is a rare genetic condition that affects approximately 1 in 40,000 people in the United States. It primarily affects the nervous system, causing movement problems such as impaired muscle coordination (ataxia) that worsen over time. Individuals with this condition may also experience muscle weakness, stiffness, impaired speech, hearing, and vision, as well as heart complications such as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Symptoms typically appear between the ages of 5 and 15, though