Giulia Paparella1, Alfonso Fasano2,3,4, Mark Hallett5, Alfredo Berardelli1,6, Matteo Bologna1,6. 1. IRCCS Neuromed, Pozzilli, Italy. 2. Edmond J. Safra Program in Parkinson's Disease, Morton and Gloria Shulman Movement Disorders Clinic, Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. 3. Division of Neurology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. 4. Krembil Brain Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. 5. Human Motor Control Section, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA. 6. Department of Human Neurosciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Bradykinesia is one of the cardinal motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease. However, clinical and experimental studies indicate that bradykinesia may also be observed in various neurological diseases not primarily characterized by parkinsonism. These conditions include hyperkinetic movement disorders, such as dystonia, chorea, and essential tremor. Bradykinesia may also be observed in patients with neurological conditions that are not seen as "movement disorders," including those characterized by the involvement of the cerebellum and corticospinal system, dementia, multiple sclerosis, and psychiatric disorders. METHODS: We reviewed clinical reports and experimental studies on bradykinesia in non-parkinsonian conditions and discussed the major findings. RESULTS: Bradykinesia is a common motor abnormality in non-parkinsonian conditions. From a pathophysiological standpoint, bradykinesia in neurological conditions not primarily characterized by parkinsonism may be explained by brain network dysfunction. CONCLUSION: In addition to the pathophysiological implications, the present paper highlights important terminological issues and the need for a new, more accurate, and more widely used definition of bradykinesia in the context of movement disorders and other neurological conditions.
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE:Bradykinesia is one of the cardinal motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease. However, clinical and experimental studies indicate that bradykinesia may also be observed in various neurological diseases not primarily characterized by parkinsonism. These conditions include hyperkinetic movement disorders, such as dystonia, chorea, and essential tremor. Bradykinesia may also be observed in patients with neurological conditions that are not seen as "movement disorders," including those characterized by the involvement of the cerebellum and corticospinal system, dementia, multiple sclerosis, and psychiatric disorders. METHODS: We reviewed clinical reports and experimental studies on bradykinesia in non-parkinsonian conditions and discussed the major findings. RESULTS:Bradykinesia is a common motor abnormality in non-parkinsonian conditions. From a pathophysiological standpoint, bradykinesia in neurological conditions not primarily characterized by parkinsonism may be explained by brain network dysfunction. CONCLUSION: In addition to the pathophysiological implications, the present paper highlights important terminological issues and the need for a new, more accurate, and more widely used definition of bradykinesia in the context of movement disorders and other neurological conditions.
Authors: Robert Chen; Alfredo Berardelli; Amitabh Bhattacharya; Matteo Bologna; Kai-Hsiang Stanley Chen; Alfonso Fasano; Rick C Helmich; William D Hutchison; Nitish Kamble; Andrea A Kühn; Antonella Macerollo; Wolf-Julian Neumann; Pramod Kumar Pal; Giulia Paparella; Antonio Suppa; Kaviraja Udupa Journal: Clin Neurophysiol Pract Date: 2022-06-30