What Is The Difference Between Dystonia And Parkinson’s Disease

Next Steps: Getting Care For Parkinsons And Essential Tremor

If you believe you have Parkinsons disease or essential tremor, dont hesitate to seek professional care. Your doctor can help you diagnose your condition, find the right treatment plan for you, and manage your symptoms so you can enjoy the best quality of life possible. While suffering from a condition like essential tremor or Parkinsons can be frightening, you dont have to face it on your own.

When Do Symptoms Occur

Dystonia can occur at any age, but genetic and idiopathic dystonia are often divided as either early, or childhood onset, versus adult onset. 

• Early onset dystonia often begins with symptoms in the limbs and may progress to involve other regions. Some symptoms tend to occur after periods of exertion and/or fluctuate over the course of the day.
• Adult onset dystonia usually is located in one or adjacent parts of the body, most often involving the neck and/or facial muscles. Acquired dystonia can affect other regions of the body. 

Dystonia often progresses through various stages. Initially, dystonic movements may be intermittent and appear only during voluntary movements or stress. Later, individuals may show dystonic postures and movements while walking and ultimately even while they are relaxed. Dystonia can be associated with fixed postures and shortening of tendons.

What Are The Various Stages Of Parkinsons Disease And The Symptoms Associated With It

The progression of Parkinsons disease is mostly divided into five stages-

Stage 1- This stage is characterized by the mildest form of Parkinsons. The symptoms are not so severe to interfere with daily tasks and overall lifestyle. Friends and family members may notice some sort of changes in the way the patient walks, his posture and some facial expression. One of the distinct symptom of Parkinsons is the tremors are other problems in movement and exclusive to one side of the body. If doctor is consulted at this stage, the prescribed medication can help ease out the symptoms at this stage.

Stage 2- This phase is considered to be the moderate form of Parkinsons because the symptoms get distinctively noticed by people. Muscle stiffness is quite common at this stage. It must be remembered that although there may be an increase of tremors and irregular posture, stage 2 does not impair the balance of the patient.

Stage 3- The patient may experience a turning point in this stage as along with the symptoms he may not be able to maintain his balance and experience decreased reflexes. Movements become slower and falls become common. Medication along with occupational therapy may be advised.

Stage 4- It becomes impossible to even stand without assistance at stage 4. Living alone may make daily tasks impossible and dangerous. Thus the patient will need a caregiver from this stage.

How Tremors Impact Function And What You Can Do About It

When we are toddlers we are constantly problem-solving how to accomplish a task and creating neural pathways that become stronger with each repetition. As adults our brains are wired to accomplish the task without thinking about it. We put our jacket on in the same way everyday. When you experience tremors, suddenly the way youve always done something doesnt work. Its incredibly frustrating! But there are so many ways to accomplish a task; and learning to modify your movements, your environment, or the activity itself can provide great satisfaction and improved quality of life.

Begin to build the habit of asking yourself some questions:

What can I change about the actual task?What can I change about the environment?What can I change in myself to accomplish the task?

People who experience resting tremors might have difficulty with activities that require fine motor skills, such as handwriting, buttoning buttons, zipping zippers, handling money, etc.

Is there a pen that you can use to help write? Try something thicker, heavier, or a different ink. Does it help to support your arm on a surface or closer to your body? Does it help to sit or stand? Can you use voice recognition software? What accessibility options are available on my smartphone or computer?

Can you wear clothes that dont have fasteners? Can you pull the fabric over a button instead of pinching the button? Can you use a key ring on a zipper to help pull it up?

How Is Huntingtons Disease Treated

At this point in time, there is no cure for Huntingtons Disease. There is also no known way to slow or prevent the disease from progressing. For now, treatment focuses on the management of symptoms and optimizing the quality of life for those affected. Each person affected by Huntingtons Disease will experience their symptoms uniquely. Meaning no two patients are the same, and no two patients exhibit identical symptoms. 

There are a wide variety of medications and therapies that are available to help people with Huntingtons Disease. It is important to practice patience and perseverance when beginning a new medication as it takes time to figure out how these medications interact with your body and with each other. It may take weeks or months to figure out the correct combination and dosage of medications. 

Speech therapy is also a very important part of a treatment plan for Huntingtons Disease. One of our highly specialized virtual speech therapists can offer support and guidance on the road to managing symptoms. Connect with one of our speech therapists by scheduling your free introductory calltoday!

Writers Cramp And Musicians Dystonia

Writers Cramp is a focal dystonia of the finger, hand or forearm in which there is a simultaneous contraction of those muscles while writing or doing specific skilled tasks. Writers cramp may begin after repetitive use and is therefore often considered an occupational dystonia, more commonly experienced by typists, draftsmen, musicians and sportsmen.

When musicians are affected, it is called musicians dystonia . When the muscles involved are around the mouth , it is called embouchure dystonia.

For more information visit the Dystonia Medical Research Foundation www.dystonia-foundation.org.

Parkinsonian Tremor: The Most Common Form Of Resting Tremor

Some patients have a predominant postural tremor in addition to their rest tremor. This form is uncommon and has been considered to be a combination of an ET with PD although the relation between postural tremor that is phenomenologically similar to ET and PD has not been well defined. Further studies are needed to define the relation between ET and other tremors, including PD and other task specific tremors.

The Association Between Vascular Disease And Pd

The association between ischaemic stroke and vascular risk factors on the one hand and PD on the other has been addressed in several studies. The incidence of ischaemic stroke among PD patients was lower than that of controls in one study , but an association was found in another . Cigarette smoking is recognised as protective for PD and a low incidence of both smoking and myocardial infarction is seen in PD patients . A retrospective case-control study of 178 patients with newly diagnosed PD, and 533 age- and sex-matched controls showed that diabetes, history of smoking, high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol and triglycerides were significantly less frequent in PD than controls . Another study looked at the frequency of cerebrovascular lesions in 617 patients with autopsy-proven idiopathic PD and 535 age-matched controls. It found that 44.0% of PD patients had vascular lesions, more than was seen in controls , while acute, often fatal ischaemic or hemorrhagic strokes were less frequent in parkinsonian patients . The study concluded that there is neither a protective effect of PD against stroke nor a greater susceptibility to death from stroke in the populations examined .

Environmental Factors And Exposures

Exposure to and a history of head injury have each been linked with PD, but the risks are modest. Never having smoked cigarettes, and never drinking caffeinated beverages, are also associated with small increases in risk of developing PD.

Low concentrations of in the blood is associated with an increased risk of PD.

Drug-induced parkinsonism

Different medical drugs have been implicated in cases of parkinsonism. Drug-induced parkinsonism is normally reversible by stopping the offending agent. Drugs include:

What Is Huntingtons Disease

Huntington disease usually appears in a persons thirties or forties. Early signs and symptoms can include depression, irritability, poor coordination, small involuntary movements, and trouble learning new information or making decisions. Many people with Huntington disease develop involuntary, repetitive jerking movements known as chorea. As the disease, progresses symptoms become more pronounced. People with this disorder also experience changes in personality and decrease in thinking abilities. Affected individuals usually live about 15 to 20 years after signs and symptoms begin.

There is no care for this disorder, and it is largely determined genetically due to in the HTT gene. The juvenile form of this disorder also exists. Chorea can be controlled with medicines. However, other higher function abnormalities are difficult to control.

Coronal section from an MR brain scan of a patient with HD.

Is Tardive Dystonia Reversible

In almost all instances, drug induced dystonias are reversible, resolving after the discontinuation of the offending drug. Tardive dystonia is a rare exception to this rule with a potential for becoming permanent. Tardive syndromes are pretty troublesome since it can be prolonged and very difficult to treat.

What Are The Different Categories Or Types Of Tremor

Tremor is most commonly classified by its appearance and cause or origin.  There are more than 20 types of tremor.  Some of the most common forms of tremor include:

Essential tremor

Essential tremor is one of the most common movement disorders.  The exact cause of essential tremor is unknown.  For some people this tremor is mild and remains stable for many years.  The tremor usually appears on both sides of the body, but is often noticed more in the dominant hand because it is an action tremor.

The key feature of essential tremor is a tremor in both hands and arms, which is present during action and when standing still.  Additional symptoms may include head tremor without abnormal posturing of the head and a shaking or quivering sound to the voice if the tremor affects the voice box.  The action tremor in both hands in essential tremor can lead to problems with writing, drawing, drinking from a cup, or using tools or a computer.

Tremor frequency may decrease as the person ages, but the severity may increase, affecting the persons ability to perform certain tasks or activities of daily living.  Heightened emotion, stress, fever, physical exhaustion, or low blood sugar may trigger tremor and/or increase its severity.  Though the tremor can start at any age, it most often appears for the first time during adolescence or in middle age .  Small amounts of alcohol may help decrease essential tremor, but the mechanism behind this is unknown.

Dystonic tremor

Restless Legs And Restless Legs Syndrome

With restless legs, a person has unpleasant crawling, pulling or itchy feelings in the muscles or bones of the legs. These sensations occur particularly when lying down in bed, and can occur with sitting and relaxing in the evening later on in the disease. These sensations improve or disappear when walking.

Restless Legs Syndrome consists of several problems. The unpleasant sensation of restless legs is the most common symptom, but some people may have involuntary movements during sleep, myoclonic jerks, inner restlessness, and dystonia. RLS may begin before age 20 as a mild disorder and most people seek medical advice in midlife when symptoms worsen.

For more information, visit the Restless Legs Syndrome Foundation at www.rls.org.

What Is The Difference Between Essential Tremors And Parkinsons Related Tremors

Essential tremor is a condition that causes uncontrollable shaking in different parts of the body, including the arms, hands, voice box , tongue, and chin. While an essential tremor often affect the voice and head, head tremors are uncommon in Parkinsons. Additionally, essential tremor tends to worsen when a part of the body is in motion, while Parkinsons-related tremors decrease when the body is in motion.

Misperception #4: Head Tremor Occurs In Et But Not In Pd

Head tremor is observed in patients with ET, with the reported prevalence being dependent on the ascertainment of the cases. One study noted head tremor in 12% of patients in the community, 37% in a tertiary referral center and 54% in a brain repository . Two studies evaluating factors associated with head tremor found that women with ET were four to six times more likely to have head tremor than men with ET . The head tremor of ET is typically a postural tremor that resolves at rest . Yet head tremor is not unique to ET. Head tremor has also been described in PD patients; one study reported head tremor in 17% of clinically diagnosed PD cases . Head tremor was described in detail in five clinically diagnosed PD cases . The head tremor was present at rest , had a frequency similar to the 46-Hz rest tremor of the limbs and responded to levodopa . None of the cases had voice tremor.

Clinical pearl #4: Head tremor often occurs in patients with ET but can on occasion also be seen in patients with PD. The head tremor of ET is typically one that resolves at rest , in contrast to what has been reported in PD.

What Is The Difference Between Essential Tremor Andparkinsons

The exact cause of essential tremor is unknown while Parkinsonsdisease is better understood.

In Parkinsons disease, neurons located in the part of the brain thatcontrols movement become impaired or die. These neurons usually produce achemical called dopamine which enables regular body movements. When the neuronscant produce necessary levels of dopamine, tremors can occur, along withrigidity of limbs and decreased coordination.

Want More Practical Articles Like This

Much more can be found in our Every Victory Counts® manual. Its packed with up-to-date information about everything Parkinsons, plus an expanded worksheets and resources section to help you put what youve learned into action. Request your copy of the Every Victory Counts manual by clicking the button below.

Thank you to our 2020 Peak Partners, Amneal and Kyowa Kirin, with special support from Adamas, for helping us make printing, distributing, and shipping the Every Victory Counts manual for free possible.

Dyskinesia Vs Dystonia: Understanding The Difference

• Dyskinesia and dystonia are common conditions that develop in people with Parkinsons disease and other movement disorders.
• Dyskinesia is a side effect of the medication used to treat Parkinsons. Dystonia can be caused by medication, or it may be a symptom of the disease itself.
• Dyskinesia and dystonia can be treated similarly through deep brain stimulation or modifications to medication.

Parkinsons medications like levodopa can cause motor symptoms known as dyskinesia. Another set of motor symptoms, dystonia, can also develop as a side effect of Parkinsons medications, or as a direct symptom of Parkinsons or another movement disorder.

Parkinsons disease is a neurological disorder characterized by a lack of the neurotransmitter dopamine in the brain. This chemical messenger is responsible for controlling muscle movements. When dopamine levels are low, signaling is disrupted, leading to the development of movement disorders. Parkinsons is treated with dopaminergic treatments to increase dopamine levels or mimic the chemical to improve symptoms.

Parkinsons disease and other forms of parkinsonism are characterized by abnormal movements, bradykinesia , and myoclonus .

How To Manage Dystonia

Dystonia can be treated in many of the same ways as dyskinesia, such as with dopaminergic medications and DBS. However, there are other ways to manage this condition, including Botox , physical therapy to work the dystonic muscles, or anticholinergic medications.

Botox is most well known for its cosmetic uses, such as for decreasing wrinkles. However, it can also be used to manage dystonia. This toxin comes from the bacteria Clostridium botulinum, which interferes with the chemical acetylcholine, used by nerve endings in muscles to send messages. When this communication is interrupted, the muscles are weakened, which can alleviate certain symptoms of Parkinsons.

Similar to botulinum toxin, anticholinergic medications can be used to interfere with acetylcholine signaling between the nerves and muscles. These include Artane , Parsitan , and Cogentin .

Parkinsons Disease Vs Essential Tremor: The Diagnostic Process

Besides:

• Physical examinations of various kinds, such as being asked to complete certain activities
• A look at your family history

Your doctor may also:

• Order a dopamine transporter imaging test Parkinsons disease patients gradually lose dopamine, so test results indicative of this suggest Parkinsons disease.
• Use techniques such as accelerometry to look at the severity and patterns of your tremors. 
• Test your sense of smell, something that is often affected in people with Parkinsons disease.

• Fekete R, Jankovic J. Revisiting the relationship between essential tremor and Parkinsons disease. Mov Disord 2011,26:391-398.
• Photo courtesy of SteadyHealth.com

Exercise Stretch And Strengthen

• Even if you dont feel like it, exercising every day can increase flexibility in your muscles and joints, reduce pain and discomfort, and improve circulation. Exercise can increase the secretion of your happy hormones, improve your mood, and decrease anxiety and depression.
• If you have discomfort in your calves, ankles, feet, or toes, and try the eight exercises physical therapist Sarah King recommends.

Whats The Main Difference Between Tremor And Dyskinesia

Tremor seen in Parkinsons disease is one of the hallmark features of the condition. Its one of the motor symptoms of Parkinsons that shows improvement with medication.

On the other hand, dyskinesia tends to show up later in the course of the disease as a long-term side effect of medications used to treat Parkinsons. Sometimes it can be a bit hard to tell whether the abnormal movements are tremor or dyskinesia.

Signs It Might Be Multiple System Atrophy Instead Of Parkinsons Disease

Here are some clues as to whether it is multiple system atrophy or Parkinsons disease. One of the easier distinctions is between PD and MSA-C .If the patient presents with unsteadiness while walking, uncoordinated arms and legs, bladder disturbance and/or dizziness when standing the diagnosis is more likely to be MSA-C. On the other hand, if a person looks Parkinsonian the distinction can be harder, but there are clues:

• In the earlier stages of MSA-P , which is often when people have just been told they have Parkinsons disease, some patients will fall often.Frequent falls also occur in Parkinsons disease, but it typically occurs 10-15 years after diagnosis.
• In patients with MSA the classic Parkinsons drug L-Dopa may work initially but will stop working very quickly.It can continue working in PD patients for many years.
• Dementia is not associated with MSA however, it does occur in patients with lewy body Parkinsons disease.
• Early autonomic nervous system symptoms such as low blood pressure when standing and issues with the bladder are often signs of possible MSA in patients diagnosed with Parkinsons.
• Vocal cord issues are less common but very typical in MSA and much less common in PD.Some examples include difficulty getting words out, odd sighs and even falling asleep during a conversation.

How Can I Better Cope With Having Parkinsons Disease

The most important step you can take is to seek help as soon as you feel less able to cope with Parkinsons disease. Taking action early will enable you to understand and deal with the many effects of your condition. A mental health care provider can design a treatment plan to meet your specific needs. Strategies can be designed to help you regain a sense of control over your life and improve your quality of life.

Other steps you can take include the following.

• Find out as much as you can about the illness.
• Talk to your friends and family about it. Dont isolate them. They will want to be involved in helping you.
• Do things you enjoy.
• Do not be afraid to ask your doctor, nurse, or other health care provider to repeat any instructions or medical terms that you dont understand or remember. They should always be available to answer your questions and address your concerns.
• Make use of resources and support services offered by your hospital and in your community.
• Learn to manage stress. This will help you to maintain a positive physical, emotional, and spiritual outlook on life. Being stressed out will only make the situation worse. You should try to organize a daily routine that will reduce stress, with down time for both you and your family members.
• If you are depressed and this is more than just feeling sad occasionally antidepressants can be prescribed to help lift your mood.

Dementia With Lewy Bodies

DLB is second only to Alzheimers as the most common cause of dementia in the elderly. It causes progressive intellectual and functional deterioration. In addition to the signs and symptoms of Parkinsons disease, people with DLB tend to have frequent changes in thinking ability, level of attention or alertness and visual hallucinations. They usually do not have a tremor or have only a slight tremor. The parkinsonian symptoms may or may not respond to levodopa.

What Does This Mean For Me If I Have Essential Tremor

There is compelling evidence that cognition differs between people with and without an essential tremor. Those differences, however, are slight, and the cause of those changes is unclear. If essential tremor is, in fact, a degenerative illness, its very slow.?? How this all relates, if at all, to patient care is unclear at this time. Perhaps identifying more serious causes of essential tremor could end up benefiting people who would otherwise be written off as having an entirely benign disorder.

DISCLAIMER: The information in this site is for educational purposes only. It should not be used as a substitute for personal care by a licensed physician. Please see your doctor for diagnosis and treatment of any concerning symptoms or medical condition.

How Can I Better Cope With Having Parkinsons Disease

The most important step you can take is to seek help as soon as you feel less able to cope with Parkinsons disease. Taking action early will enable you to understand and deal with the many effects of your condition. A mental health care provider can design a treatment plan to meet your specific needs. Strategies can be designed to help you regain a sense of control over your life and improve your quality of life.

Other steps you can take include the following.

Cognitive And Emotional Aspects Of Essential Tremor

Do I Have Parkinsons Disease Or An Essential Tremor

2 Minute Read

Medically Reviewed by UPMC Susquehanna

April 1, 2019

Signs & Symptoms: Is It Essential Tremor Or Parkinsons

In order to start managing your condition and receive the treatment you need, you should be aware of the most common signs and symptoms as well as the key differences between essential tremor and Parkinsons. After all, the first step in getting care as early on as possible is self-awareness that you might be suffering from one of these conditions.

What Is The Cause Of Huntingtons Disease

Huntingtons disease happens because of a genetic disorder that causes brain cells death that has the defective gene. The huntingtin gene carries the genetic information that leads to producing a protein of the same name.When the HD gene is present, huntingtin is abnormally made by the cells, causing issues in neurons normal metabolism.

Research has shown there is a CAG repeat in the mutant HTT gene of people with Huntingtons. CAG is one of the many sequences of molecules that build the DNA, which makes the bodys proteins. For huntingtin, there is a particular number of sequences that need to happen in order to produce the protein correctly. So when there is a CAG repeat, more of these sequences lead to abnormally made huntingtin protein. The amount of CAG repeats is proportional to the severity of the disease. If its low, there is a reduced penetrance of the disease.

HD patients get the HTT gene through one of their parents, which gives them the gene plus another mutant allele. This means the person has a 50% chance of developing the disease, and if both parents have it, they have a 75% chance.