A neurological disease which causes the deterioration of muscle control and coordination is more prevalent in the Northern Territory than anywhere else in the world.
The Australian variant of Machado-Joseph disease shares a common ancestor with Asian variants, dating back 7,000 years, University of Sydney research shows.
The disease currently affects approximately 50 people in the Northern Territory, with a further 500 families at risk. Machado-Joseph disease can affect people as young as ten years old.
Read more at University of Sydney