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Chorea (disease)

Chorea (also known as St. Vitus dance) is an abnormal voluntary movement disorder, one of a group of neurological disorders called dyskinesias, which are caused by overactivity of the neurotransmitter dopamine in the areas of the brain that control movement. Chorea is characterized by brief, irregular contractions that are not repetitive or rhythmic, but appear to flow from one muscle to the next. Chorea often occurs with athetosis, which adds twisting and writhing movements. Chorea is a primary feature of Huntington's disease, a progressive, hereditary movement disorder that appears in adults, but it may also occur in a variety of other conditions. more...

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Sydenham's chorea occurs in a small percentage (20 percent) of children and adolescents as a complication of rheumatic fever. Chorea can also be induced by drugs (levodopa, anti-convulsants, and anti-psychotics) metabolic and endocrine disorders and vascular incidents.

When chorea is serious, slight movements will become thrashing motions, this form of severe chorea is referred to as "ballism". Walking may become peculiar, and include odd postures and leg movements. Unlike ataxia and dystonia, which affect the quality of voluntary movements or parkinsonism, which is a hindrance of voluntary movements, the movements of chorea and ballism occur on their own, without conscious effort.

The term chorea is derived from a Greek word khoreia (a kind of dance, see chorea), as the quick movements of the feet or hands are vaguely comparable to dancing or piano playing.

Treatment

There is no standard course of treatment for chorea. Treatment depends on the type of chorea and the associated disease. Treatment for Huntington's disease is supportive, while treatment for Syndenham's chorea usually involves antibiotic drugs to treat the infection, followed by drug therapy to prevent recurrence. Adjusting medication dosages can treat drug-induced chorea. Metabolic and endocrine-related choreas are treated according to the cause(s) of symptoms.

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Less is more - goodnews - Huntington's disease - Brief Article
From Better Nutrition, 6/1/03

According to a recent study, eating fewer calories and decreasing meal frequency may help hinder the onset of Huntington's disease in mice.

Huntington's disease, which affects about one in 10,000 people in the United States, is passed from parent to child. It results from the genetically programmed degeneration of neurons-nerve cells in the brain.

When neurons degenerate, it causes uncontrolled movements, loss of intellectual capabilities and emotional disturbance. Speech may become slurred and vital functions such as swallowing, eating, speaking and walking may become increasingly difficult. Some individuals may also have difficulty recognizing family members or friends.

But the new study, which was published in the February 2003 issue of the Journal of Neuro-chemistry, offers hope for people who may be genetically at risk for Huntington's disease. Researchers found that calorie restriction (CR) and fewer meals not only delayed the onset of Huntington's disease, it also caused the mice in the study to live about 15 percent longer than normal. Past studies have found that CR can increase the life span of everything from protozoa to laboratory animals to humans.

CR also prevents or delays development of many age-related disorders such as kidney disease, diabetes and tumors, as well as hampering declines in immune function--and presumably, Huntington's disease.

Incorporating CR into your lifestyle begins by setting a calorie-reduction goal, generally from 10 to 30 percent, phased in over a year's time. Acceptable foods include nutrient-dense whole grains and vegetables, plus lean protein, supplements and vitamins. The goal is to reduce calories but not diminish good nutrition. See "Low-calorie Longevity," BN, December 2002, for full details.

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COPYRIGHT 2003 Gale Group

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