Dystonia (2024)

FAQs

Dystonia? ›

Dystonia is a movement disorder that causes the muscles to contract. This can cause twisting motions or other movements that happen repeatedly and that aren't under the person's control. When the condition affects one part of the body, it's called focal dystonia.

The principal cause of dystonia has been thought to be dysfunction of the basal ganglia, which emerged from the concept of the basal ganglia as the brain region responsible for integrating motor control. Also, secondary dystonia is often due to lesions of the basal ganglia, specifically the putamen or globus pallidus.

A diagnosis of dystonia does not generally reduce your life expectancy. If your dystonia began when you were an adult, your life expectancy should be equal to that of the general population. If you have severe dystonia caused by inherited or genetic factors, your life expectancy can be affected.

It's usually a lifelong condition. It may get worse for a few years but then remain steady. Occasionally, it can improve over time.

Dystonia is an uncommon complication of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS) and related disorders. The types of dystonia described associated with MS are heterogenous, and the relationship between dystonia and MS remains unclear.

Psychological stress can interfere with dystonia in various ways. It can cause psychogenic dystonia and aggravate existing dystonia. Our study suggests that psychological stress might also trigger the onset of—genetically preformed—idiopathic dystonia.

Although dystonia can be a Parkinson's symptoms, people can experience dystonia without having Parkinson's. Whether or not a person with dystonia has Parkinson's, it is often treated with the same medications.

Dystonia may be inherited, acquired, or idiopathic (no known cause). Inherited disorders are transmitted genetically. In acquired forms, dystonia is caused by damage or degeneration of the brain (e.g. after a brain injury or stroke) or exposure to particular drugs.

Age of onset is broken down into infancy (birth to 2 years), childhood (3-12 years), adolescence (13-20), early adulthood (21-40) and late adulthood (greater than 40 years). Dystonia that develops during infancy or childhood is more likely to have a known cause and to progress to become widespread.

Why does alcohol help dystonia? ›

Ethanol enhances GABAergic neurotransmission in the brain^27–29 and could potentially improve dystonia by overcoming dystonia-related disinhibition of the somatosensory network. Similarly, other GABA-enhancing substances such as benzodiazepines, zonisamide, and sodium oxybate produce similar effects as alcohol.

Neuroleptics (antipsychotics), antiemetics, and antidepressants are the most common causes of drug-induced dystonic reactions. Acute dystonic reactions have been described with every antipsychotic. Alcohol and cocaine use increase risk.

However, the supplements that have shown the most promise in research for neurological disorders are Omega 3 fatty acids, B12 and Vitamin D. There are many companies that sell these supplements and some are of high quality and others of poor quality.

Anxiety and depression are among the most common non-motor issues seen in individuals with dystonia. Studies have shown that as many as 70% of individuals with dystonia will experience depression and/or anxiety over their lifetime. Anxiety and depression significantly worsen disability and quality of life in dystonia.

Although dystonia can be a Parkinson's symptoms, people can experience dystonia without having Parkinson's. Whether or not a person with dystonia has Parkinson's, it is often treated with the same medications.

Herpes simplex virus (HSV), varicella, mumps, measles, enterovirus, Influenza-A, Epstein-Barr virus and other viral infections can cause acute ataxia, OMAS and chorea-dystonic syndromes [10], [11], [27], [28], [29].