Athetosis is a brain-related disorder which can potentially hamper your lifestyle, in this blog we will discuss its causes, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment and the value of its early diagnosis to conclude.
Athetosis is a neurological disorder which may manifest due to many reasons such as birth defects. It is a movement dysfunction characterised by slow, involuntary, convoluted, writhing, irregular and rolling movements. Mostly it occurs in distal limbs although it may occur in other body parts such as arms, legs, neck, tongue, trunk, etc. These typical movements are random and are also known as athetoid movements. Athetoid movements, if tried to control, can get worsened.
What Are the Causes of Athetoid Movements?
Athetosis might be of genetic origin or may signify specific neurological conditions for e.g. trauma or stroke. Other reasons for athetosis are as mentioned below
- Congenital defects- If during the gestation period, the baby gets deprived of oxygen for certain periods of time, its brain might develop athetosis. The situation where brain's blood supply is cut for a short duration, it is known as asphyxia. Asphyxia can lead to brain damage. These changes increase the levels of dopamine. These changes may lead to impairment of basal ganglia.
- Diseases of Basal ganglia- Diseases affecting basal ganglia such as huntington's disease and Wilson's disease might be the cause of athetosis. These diseases are inherited, rare progressive degeneration disease that damages the brain’s nerve cells. Which in turn leads to movement-associated impairments, cognitive disorders and psychological disorders.
- Jaundice- Due to jaundice, bilirubin levels are high, when jaundice occurs in a newborn, the raised bilirubin can damage the basal ganglia. Because the baby’s immune system has not developed yet to fight against the infection, the toxins travel through the infant's body and damage the basal ganglia. Although medicines and treatment are available, they are not effective, which in turn is not capable of stopping athetosis to represent.
- Stroke- Stroke can cause basal ganglia damage which may lead to athetosis. Due to stroke, the brain starts to interfere with neuron movements, leading to the symptoms of athetosis and movement disorders.
- Drug toxicity- Certain drugs can elevate the levels of dopamine in the brain which lead to basal ganglia damage and cause athetosis.
- Cerebral palsy- If the brain has not developed normally or due to brain damage, cerebral palsy may occur. Cerebral palsy may cause defects in the ability to control muscle movements. When the damage to basal ganglia has occurred, it is known as athetoid cerebral palsy. Athetoid cerebral palsy is mainly caused due to asphyxia and high bilirubin levels.
What is the Difference Between Chorea and Athetosis?
Chorea and athetosis can easily be confused due to their similar representation, they can even coexist as well, this situation is known as choreoathetosis. Slow chorea is also known as athetosis.
Chorea symptoms may include
- Movements that are short and erratic.
- It may be seen in legs, arms, truk, face or mouth
- Muscular contractions in chorea are sudden, uncontrolled and unpredicted.
- The movements resemble dance like rhythmic jerking.
What Are the Diagnostic Methods of Athetosis?
It is important to diagnose the cause of athetosis as athetosis is only the symptom but not disease itself. To diagnose for athetosis, your doctor might need to perform certain diagnostic tests.
Some of them are mentioned below
- A full-fledged medical history- Taking a medical history can be of great significance in determining whether the patient has had any disease which may be the potential cause of athetosis.
- A physical Examination- A physical examination can reveal any injury about the manifesting symptoms. Also physical exams can show the muscle strength which is of diagnostic value.
- Blood tests- By conducting blood tests, your doctor can know a lot about your hematologic profile.such as
- Urine tests such as 24 hour urine copper test
- Brain imaging tests- Certain imaging tests can also help evaluate the damage or injury to brain matter. brain imaging tests such as
- Gross motor function tests- These tests can help assess your motor ability and coordinated movements which may help in diagnosis.
What Are the Symptoms of Athetosis?
- Movements that are uncontrolled
- Difficulty standing in erect posture
- While attempting to control movements, another group of muscle movements occur
- Tremors
- Twisting torso movements
- Grimacing
- Worsened situation while attempting to correct posture
- Slow, involuntary, writing movements
- Unable to walk properly
- Sudden, and unpredicted muscle movements
How Can Athetosis Be Treated?
Once the appropriate diagnosis has been made, it becomes easier to treat the underlying cause. Some of the procedures are mentioned below:
- Lifestyle changes- First and foremost treatment therapy can be changing the way you are conducting your life. Eating healthy food, exercising regularly and maintaining good muscle strength can help improve the symptoms.
- Botox therapy- Injections containing botox are administered into the muscles which help slow down the involuntary abrupt movements.
- Anti-dopamine drugs- Certain drugs which can lower the levels of dopamine circulating can lower the risk of developing athetosis attacks.
- Physical Therapy- Exercises that are assisted with physiotherapy can also help improve muscle strength.
Conclusion
In most cases, athetosis remains persistent as the correct diagnosis and timely diagnosis are not made. Uncorrected athetosis can lead to many complications such as
- Walking uncontrollably
- Speech problems
- Permanently deformed posture
- Inability to conduct daily chores etc.
Therefore, a timely and correct diagnosis becomes utmost important. Getting diagnosed from the best diagnostic centre can improve the prognosis and thereby improving the quality of life.
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