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what is the difference of myoclonus and parkinson deseaselu

By Anonymous September 6, 2017 - 3:45pm
 
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HERWriter Guide

Hello Anon

Thank you for writing.

Myoclonus is a brief and rapid twitching of a muscle or muscle groups. The twitching or jerking happens suddenly. It cannot be stopped or controlled at will.

There are different types. Some occur normally, like the hiccups or a movement while falling asleep. Other types are abnormal.

The movements are caused by an abnormal electrical discharge in the nervous system. The electrical discharge may originate in the:

Brain
Spinal cord
Nerves in the body

The message travels along the nerves to the muscle. The nerve stimulates a muscle or group of muscles to suddenly contract.

The exact mechanism triggering the abnormal electrical discharge depends on the cause. Myoclonus is often a symptom of a nervous system or metabolic condition. Possible causes include:

A lack of oxygen or nutrients
Certain medications or toxins
Nervous system disorders, such as:
Head or spinal cord trauma or injury
Tumors of the brain or spinal cord
Multiple sclerosis
Parkinson's disease
Alzheimer's disease
Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease
Huntington's disease
Encephalitis
Stroke
Epilepsy
Coma
Paraneoplastic syndromes (disorders that happen in people with certain types of cancer)
Metabolic disorders, such as:
Lipid storage disease (a congenital disorder that usually occurs in children)
Electrolyte imbalance
Respiratory failure
Liver failure
Kidney failure
Malabsorption syndromes, such as Whipple's disease or celiac disease
Risk Factors
A family history of myoclonus is the only common risk factor that has been identified.

Symptoms
Myoclonic symptoms vary from mild to severe. This depends on the cause of the problem. It may begin in childhood or adulthood. The unexpected jerking or twitching may occur once in a while or often. It may be limited to one region of the body or affect all muscle groups.

Light, sound, touch, or movement may be triggers. Or, it may happen for no clear reason. Movements can occur at rest or during other movements. There may be one or a series of twitches. Sometimes the jerking occurs in a pattern. Other times there is no pattern. Myoclonus can become so severe that it interferes with eating, speaking, or walking.

Parkinson's Disease can cause Myoclonus, rather than the other way around. Parkinson's disease (PD) is a progressive movement disorder that causes:

Muscle rigidity
Tremor at rest
Slowing down of movements (bradykinesia)
Difficulty moving and gait instability
It is caused by a loss of nerve cells in the brain. This includes loss in an area called the substantia nigra . The loss decreases the amount of dopamine in the brain. Low dopamine results in PD symptoms.

Best,
Susan

September 6, 2017 - 4:04pm
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