Chapter 33 The history of movement disorders
Section snippets
Distinction between cortex, white matter, and subcortical nuclei
The distinction between cortex, white matter, and subcortical nuclei was appreciated by Andreas Vesalius (1514–1564) and Francesco Piccolomini (1520–1604) in the 16th century (Vesalius, 1542, Piccolomini, 1630, Goetz et al., 2001a), and a century later British physician Thomas Willis (1621–1675) implicated the corpus striatum in motor function: “When I opened a number of cadavers of patients who had died from a long paralysis … I always found the striate bodies more softened than any other
Distinction of rest and action tremors
In the 2nd century, Galen (c. 130–200 AD) used the term tremor to refer to “involuntary alternating up-and-down motion of the limbs,” occurring during action and resulting from partial “weakness of the force that supports and moves the body” (Sider and McVaugh, 1979, Klawans et al., 1978). Galen distinguished tremor from palpitation, an “unnatural expansion and collapse” occurring at rest (Sider and McVaugh, 1979, Klawans et al., 1978). Later, in the 17th and 18th centuries, Franciscus de la
Parkinson's Disease
Parkinson's disease is of fundamental importance to the history of movement disorders, because of its common occurrence, the dramatic progress that has been made in understanding and treating the condition, and the insights this progress has provided for understanding the anatomy and function of the basal ganglia.
Encephalitis Lethargica: Von Economo's Encephalitis
In 1917 and 1918, Constantin von Economo (1876–1931) described the clinical and pathological findings of 13 cases with an unusual encephalitic condition, often with profound lethargy or stupor, that had occurred during the winter of 1916–1917 (von Economo, 1917, von Economo, 1918, von Economo, 1931):
It seems strange when sleep appears as a symptom of an illness. “Sleeping sickness” where the phenomenon of people falling asleep while eating or working was first described in two cases in our
Neuroleptic-induced parkinsonism and associated movement disorders
In the 1950s and 1960s, shortly after the introduction of chlorpromazine and other related tranquilizers (“neuroleptics”) (Delay et al., 1952, Hamon et al., 1952, Lehmann and Hanrahan, 1954), a variety of immediate and late (tardive) drug effects were recognized that included various abnormal involuntary movements, including akathisia, tremor, akinesia, parkinsonism, choreoathetosis, dystonia, and dyskinesias (Hall et al., 1956, Schonecker, 1957, Ayd, 1961, Faurbye et al., 1964). Acute
Atypical Parkinsonism
In addition to Parkinson's disease, a number of other neurodegenerative conditions have hypokinesia as a major clinical feature. Separation of these conditions from Parkinson's disease ultimately led to important anatomical and physiological discoveries concerning basal ganglia function (Goetz et al., 2001d).
Choreoathetosis
Since the Middle Ages, the term chorea (from the Greek word χoρεíα for “dance”) has been used to describe both organic and psychological disorders of motor control. In the Middle Ages, epidemics of a psychosomatic “dancing mania” erupted in central Europe coincident with the Black Plague, with St. Vitus among the various saints called upon to intercede, leading to the term “chorea Sancti Viti” (Krack, 1999, Goetz et al., 2001g). Paracelcus (1493–1541) introduced the concept of chorea as an
Dystonias
In 1944, Herz provided detailed cinematographic and electromyographic analyses of 15 personal cases of generalized dystonia, as well as an extensive review of more than 100 literature cases, and concluded that dystonic movements are best described as slow, sustained, powerful, and non-patterned contortions of the axial and appendicular muscles, with simultaneous contractions of agonist and antagonist muscles (Herz, 1944a, Herz, 1944b, Herz, 1944c). Dystonia is now defined as “a syndrome of
Myoclonus
Myoclonus is a sudden, non-suppressible, shock-like muscular contraction triggered within the central nervous system. Myoclonic movements can be “positive” or “negative”: positive myoclonus results in the contraction of a muscle or muscles, whereas negative myoclonus (e.g., asterixis) is instead associated with a brief loss of muscle tone (Schwab et al., 1951, Young and Shahani, 1986). By 1903, Lundborg proposed a classification system that remains largely in use today, with primary
Pathologic Startle Syndromes
Startle is a universal and phylogenetically ancient stereotyped reflex response to sudden, intense stimulation, which can be exaggerated in a wide variety of neuropsychiatric disorders, including various culture-bound syndromes (e.g., jumping, miryachit, and latah), hyperekplexia, startle epilepsy, benzodiazepine and alcohol withdrawal syndromes, post-traumatic stress disorder, and general anxiety disorder (Howard and Ford, 1992).
Tics
Tics are involuntary, rapid, non-rhythmic, stereotyped movements that are episodically present and occur on a background of normal movements. Tics can be categorized as motor (e.g., brief movements) or vocal (e.g., abnormal sounds produced by moving air through the nose, mouth, or throat) (The Tourette Syndrome Classification Study Group, 1993). French physician Jean Itard (1775–1838) offered the first clear description of tic disorders in 1825 (Itard, 1825), a report later cited by Gilles de
Conclusion
At the beginning of the 21st century, clinicians and neuroscientists can look with some satisfaction at the progress made in the field of movement disorders, particularly in the half century since Barbeau's historical review in 1958 (Barbeau, 1958) – for example, improved understanding of how the basal ganglia modulate cortical motor function, improved understanding of the pathophysiology of several diseases (e.g., parkinsonism, Wilson's disease, and Huntington's disease), development of
References (494)
- et al.
The functional anatomy of basal ganglia disorders
Trends Neurosci
(1989) - et al.
Feline subthalamic nucleus neurons contain glutamate-like but not GABA-like or glycine-like immunoreactivity
Brain Res
(1989) - et al.
Demonstration and mapping out of nigro-neostriatal dopamine neurons
Life Sci
(1964) Wilson's disease. An inborn error of metabolism with multiple manifestations
Am J Med
(1957)- et al.
Long-term suppression of tremor by chronic stimulation of the ventral intermediate thalamic nucleus
Lancet
(1991) - et al.
Treatment of Wilson's disease with zinc. XV. Long-term follow-up studies
J Lab Clin Med
(1998) - et al.
The NACP/synuclein gene: chromosomal assignment and screening for alterations in Alzheimer disease
Genomics
(1995) - et al.
The human NACP/alpha-synuclein gene: chromosome assignment to 4q21.3-q22 and TaqI RFLP analysis
Genomics
(1995) - et al.
Central biogenic amine metabolism in children with syndrome of chronic multiple tics of Gilles de la Tourette: norepinephrine, serotonin, and dopamine
J Am Acad Child Psychiatry
(1979) Neural mechanism in disorders of movement
Comp Biochem Physiol A
(1989)
The neurological changes in the more common types of severe liver disease
Trans Am Neurol Assoc
The neurological disorders associated with liver disease
Res Publ Assoc Res Nerv Ment Dis
Striato-nigral degeneration
J Neuropathol Exp Neurol
Abnormalities of striatal projection neurons and N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors in presymptomatic Huntington's disease
N Engl J Med
Preferential loss of striato-external pallidal projection neurons in presymptomatic Huntington's disease
Ann Neurol
Parallel organization of functionally segregated circuits linking basal ganglia and cortex
Annu Rev Neurosci
Über die anatomische Grundlage der Huntingtonischen Chorea und der choreatischen Bewegungen überhaupt
Z Gesamte Neurol Psychiatr
ACMG/ASHG statement: laboratory guidelines for Huntington disease genetic testing
Am J Hum Genet
Further evidence for the presence of nigro-striatal dopamine neurons in the rat
Am J Anat
Startle disease or hyperekplexia: further delineation of the syndrome
Brain
The relationship between trinucleotide (CAG) repeat length and clinical features of Huntington's disease
Nat Genet
NACP/alpha-synuclein immunoreactivity in fibrillary components of neuronal and oligodendroglial cytoplasmic inclusions in the pontine nuclei in multiple system atrophy
Acta Neuropathol (Berl)
A survey of drug-induced extrapyramidal reactions
JAMA
Lesions of the subthalamic nucleus for the alleviation of 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-induced parkinsonism in the primate
Mov Disord
The understanding of involuntary movements: an historical approach
J Nerv Ment Dis
Dégénérescence plurisystématisée du nevraxe. Syndrome de Steele–Richardson–Olszewski
Union Med Can
Parental ascent in the juvenile form of Huntington's chorea
Lancet
Les catécholamines dans la maladie de Parkinson
Idiopathic torsion dystonia as described by Barraquer-Roviralta
Adv Neurol
Contribución al estudio de la atetosis
Gac Med Catalana
Replication of the neurochemical characteristics of Huntington's disease by quinolinic acid
Nature
Neurasthenia, or nervous exhaustion
Boston Medical and Surgical Journal
Dr. Beard's verbal communication
J Nerv Ment Dis
Experiments with the “jumpers” or “jumping Frenchmen” of Maine
J Nerv Ment Dis
Experiments with the “jumpers” of Maine
Popul Sci Monthly
A genetical analysis of 30 families with Wilson's disease (hepatolenticular degeneration)
Ann Hum Genet
Biochemical abnormalities in Wilson's disease
J Clin Invest
Combined (thalamotomy and stimulation) stereotactic surgery of the VIM thalamic nucleus for bilateral Parkinson's disease
Appl Neurophysiol
Acute and long-term effects of subthalamic nucleus stimulation in Parkinson's disease
Stereotact Funct Neurosurg
Reversal of rigidity and improvement in motor performance by subthalamic high-frequency stimulation in MPTP-treated monkeys
Eur J Neurosci
An early description of striatonigral degeneration
J Neurol
Reversal of experimental parkinsonism by lesions of the subthalamic nucleus
Science
The primate subthalamic nucleus. II. Neuronal activity in the MPTP model of Parkinsonism
J Neurophysiol
Occurrence and distribution of catechol amines in brain
Acta Physiol Scand
Der L-3,4-Dioxyphenylalanin (=DOPA)-Effekt bei der Parkinson-Akinese
Wien Klin Wochenschr
Mechanical writing in the prevention and cure of writers' cramp and allied disorders
Medical Register (Philadelphia)
Sur un cas de tremblement parkinsonien hémiplégique symptomatique d'une tuneur du peduncle cerebral
Comptes Rendus Hebdomadaires des Séances et Mémoires de la Société de Biologie
Cited by (69)
Disease-modifying vs symptomatic treatments: Splitting over lumping
2023, Handbook of Clinical NeurologyChild Neurology: Its Origins, Founders, Growth and Evolution
2021, Child Neurology: Its Origins, Founders, Growth and EvolutionAnalytical methods used in the study of Parkinson's disease
2019, TrAC - Trends in Analytical ChemistryThe developing utility of zebrafish models of neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders: A critical review
2018, Experimental NeurologyCitation Excerpt :PD is the second most common progressive neurodegenerative disorder after AD (Driver et al., 2009; Ricciardi et al., 2015; Shulman et al., 2011), increasing exponentially in humans aged 55–79 (Driver et al., 2009). First described in individuals with “paralysis agitans” (Parkinson, 1817), PD was later conceptualized as a syndrome presenting as tremor, slower movements and motor impairments (Lanska, 2010). Cardinal neuropathological lesions (the Lewy bodies, LBs) (Lewy, 1912; Shulman et al., 2011), degeneration of dopaminergic nigrostriatal neurons, intracytoplasmic LBs and intra-axonal Lewy neurites (LNs) have also been reported for clinical PD (Calabresi et al., 2013; Forno, 1996).
Contrast induced spinal myoclonus after percutaneous coronary intervention
2017, Journal of Cardiology CasesCitation Excerpt :Myoclonus is defined as the sudden development of involuntary, irregular contractions of a group of muscles triggered by an event originating from different regions within the central nervous system. Spinal origin for myoclonus has been studied since 1881 when it was first reported by Friedreich [1]; however, it remains a rare phenomenon and is usually secondary to a structural lesion. Reports of contrast-induced spinal myoclonus are extremely rare, with the latest report published in 1989, and are more often secondary to contrast used in myelography and aortography.