Modeling Dystonia-Parkinsonism

Dystonia and parkinsonism are symptoms often seen in multiple types of primary and secondary movement disorders. Studies of affected patients and different animal models indicate that parkinsonism and dystonia may be related anatomically, genetically, biochemically, and cellularly. These relationships among parkinsonism and dystonia may provide clues for determining the neural substrates and the pathological mechanisms that cause these diseases in isolation as well as other related disorders of motor control. The results of this type of analysis may offer therapeutic approaches to improve the condition of affected individuals.