brain, spinal cord, and nerve disorders
Dystonia
Causes of Dystonia
Dystonia seems to result from overactivity in several areas of the brain: Basal ganglia, which are collections of nerve cells that help initiate and smooth out voluntary muscle movements, suppress involuntary movements, and coordinate changes in posture Thalamus, which organizes messages about muscle movements to and from the cerebral cortex Cerebellum, which coordinates the body’s movements, helps the limbs move smoothly and accurately, and helps maintain balance Cerebral cortex (the convoluted outer layer of tissue of the cerebrum—the gray matter) The basal ganglia are collections of nerve cells located deep within the brain. They include the following: Caudate nucleus (a C-shaped structure that tapers to a thin tail) Putamen Globus pallidus (located next to the putamen) Subthalamic nucleus Substantia nigra The basal ganglia help initiate and smooth out muscle movements, suppress involuntary movements, and coordinate changes in posture. Dystonia may result from A genetic mutation (called primary dystonia) A disorder or drug (called secondary dystonia) Antipsychotic drugs and some drugs used to relieve nausea can cause various types of dystonia, including shutting of the eyelids, twisting of the neck ( Cervical Dystonia ) or back, grimacing, puckering of the lips, protrusion of the tongue, and writhing of the arms or legs. 