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Clinical Features, Etiology and Treatment of Facial Dyskinesias in the Elderly
Author(s) -
ROSIN ARNOLD J.
Publication year - 1974
Publication title -
journal of the american geriatrics society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.992
H-Index - 232
eISSN - 1532-5415
pISSN - 0002-8614
DOI - 10.1111/j.1532-5415.1974.tb05837.x
Subject(s) - medicine , dyskinesia , etiology , dopamine , chorea , reserpine , anesthesia , parkinson's disease , disease
The etiology of buccal‐lingual masticatory dyskinesia is varied. A study is presented of 16 cases, of which 15 were in old people. In cerebral arteriosclerosis this form of dyskinesia may appear as a passing phenomenon and as a sign of further neurologic damage. In the setting of a cerebrovascular accident, it may be a discrete sign. It may appear in cases of senile chorea, and sometimes after brain‐stem operations. It can be caused by administration of L‐dopa or phenothiazines. The etiology of dyskinesia is discussed in relation to excess dopamine effect, and it is proposed that a restoration of the dopamine‐cholinergic balance (? by physostigimine) might result in diminution of the movements. Brain damage contributes to the genesis of the involuntary movements through disturbance of the biochemical balance in the midbrain basal nuclei. Graded doses of haloperidol or reserpine, or even perphenazine, may constitute effective therapy, when indicated.