Movement Disorder: An Overview
Movement disorders, which affect an individual’s ability to control their body movements, are a broad and diverse class of neurological disorders. They can be classified according to their cause, symptomology, or the type of movements involved. Movement disorders can involve either excessive and/or involuntary movements, or difficulty in initiating or performing voluntary movements. Common movement disorders include Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s disease, dystonia, essential tremor, and Tourette’s syndrome.
Parkinson’s disease is the most common movement disorder, and is caused by the death of neurons in the brain that produce dopamine. As a result, the patient typically experiences slowness of movement, tremor, rigidity, and balance problems. The treatment of Parkinson’s disease usually includes medications, such as levodopa, to restore dopamine levels in the brain.
Huntington’s disease is an inherited disorder in which nerve cells degenerate in the brain, leading to difficulty in controlling movements, cognitive decline, and psychiatric symptoms. Treatment typically involves medications to reduce the severity of symptoms.
Dystonia is a disorder that causes involuntary muscle contractions and spasms, typically resulting in twisting of the body. Treatment of dystonia usually involves medications, such as anticholinergic drugs, to reduce the symptoms.
Essential tremor is an involuntary movement disorder that causes shaking of the hands, arms, legs, and head. Treatment of essential tremor usually involves medications, such as beta blockers and primidone, to reduce the severity of symptoms.
Tourette’s syndrome is a neurological disorder characterized by involuntary movements or vocalizations, known as tics. Treatment of Tourette’s syndrome typically includes medications, such as antipsychotics, to reduce the severity of symptoms.
In conclusion, movement disorders are a diverse class of neurological disorders that can affect an individual’s ability to control their body movements. Common movement disorders include Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s disease, dystonia, essential tremor, and Tourette’s syndrome. Treatment of movement disorders usually involves medications, such as levodopa, anticholinergic drugs, beta blockers, primidone, and antipsychotics, to reduce the severity of symptoms.
References
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Stahl, S. M., & Przegalinski, E. (2009). Huntington’s disease. CNS & Neurological Disorders-Drug Targets, 8(1), 11-18.
Perez-Lloret, S., & Fonkem, E. (2013). Dystonia: review and update. International Journal of Neurology, 2013, 1-9.
Williamson, P. D., & Pahwa, R. (2011). Essential tremor: review and update. Movement Disorders, 26(2), 191-202.
Rizzo, R., & Jankovic, J. (2008). Tourette syndrome. CNS Spectrums, 13(3), 165-174.