Despite being born without this essential part, the woman learned to walk and talk, although her mother reported she learned these actions around age 6 and 7. (iStock) In 2014, a Chinese woman in her 20's sought treatment for recurring problems with balance and dizziness, reports a case study published in the journal Brain. But when doctors looked at brain imaging via a CT scan and MRI, they discovered their patient was living without her cerebellum. This young woman falls within a small group of nine people diagnosed with cerebellar agenesis, the study reports. Despite being born without this essential part, the woman learned to walk and talk, although her mother reported she learned these actions around age 6 and 7. However, the young woman had always struggled with walking steadily and had some trouble pronouncing words, according to the study. Scientists have long known about the cerebellum's function in finetuning motor skills and balance.