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What is Dystonia?
Dystonia is a movement disorder characterized by involuntary muscle contraction leading to abnormal postures and twisting movements. The frequency of this disorder is similar to multiple sclerosis.
Are there different types of dystonia?
Several types are known and they are classified according to age of onset, distribution of dystonia, and cause. The primary dystonias are diseases that are characterized with only dystonia as their clinical feature. They are classified as early onset or adult onset disease.
- Early onset dystonia
The characteristic form of early onset form is called "primary childhood onset dystonia" otherwise known as Oppenheim's dystonia or DYT1 dystonia. This disease begins frequently with dystonia in a limb and with onset under the age of 28. It characteristically progresses to involve other body parts and ultimately becomes generalized.
- Adult onset dystonia
The adult onset dystonias are far more common and cervical distribution (otherwise known as spasmodic torticollis) is the most common type. The adult onset dystonias usually remain localized to specific areas such as neck, face or vocal cords. And they generally do not spread and are much less frequently hereditary.
- Cervical dystonia (or spasmodic torticollis)
For cervical dystonia, typical age of onset is around 40 years and women are more affected than men.
What causes dystonia?
The cause of dystonia is unknown although genetic studies may shed some light on this in the next decade. The genetic nature of this disorder has recently come to light as it is autosomal dominant and a number of genes have been isolated.
How is dystonia treated?
The primary treatment for the focal adult onset dystonias is Botulinum toxin. There are currently two types of toxins - Type A (approved in 1989) and Type B (approved in 1999). The most recent advance in the treatment of dystonia is deep brain stimulation surgery similar to that utilized in Parkinson's disease and essential tremor.
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