Dystonia News and Research

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Dystonia is a neurological movement disorder, in which sustained muscle contractions cause twisting and repetitive movements or abnormal postures.

Zonisamide relieves myoclonus dystonia motor symptoms

A randomised crossover trial shows that zonisamide significantly improves motor symptoms and related disability in adults with myoclonus dystonia.

12 Apr 2016

Researchers reveal link between intensive instrument playing and movement disorders

A musician takes up his/her violin and starts to play, but rather than gripping the strings, the fingers seize up—and this happens every time he/she takes up the instrument. Such a movement disorder—the so-called focal dystonia— is a dramatic disease for those affected, which has thus far barely been studied.

25 Jan 2016

Penn Medicine's Gordon Baltuch performs 1,000th deep brain stimulation procedure

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) improves many of the motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease (PD) and is a life-alerting surgery for many patients. Penn Medicine's Gordon Baltuch, MD, a professor of Neurosurgery and director of the Penn Center for Functional and Restorative Neurosurgery, is one of the most prolific DBS surgeons in the world, having recently performed his 1,000th procedure, marking an important milestone for Baltuch and Penn Medicine.

31 Oct 2015

Neurocrine Biosciences announces positive data from NBI-98854 Phase III trial in tardive dyskinesia

Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc. announced today that NBI-98854, a highly selective small molecule VMAT2 inhibitor, showed a statistically significant reduction in tardive dyskinesia during the six weeks of placebo-controlled treatment in the Kinect 3 clinical trial. This Phase III trial included moderate to severe tardive dyskinesia patients with underlying schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, bipolar or major depressive disorder.

8 Oct 2015

Invitae announces dramatic expansion of genetic testing menu

Invitae Corporation (NYSE: NVTA), a genetic information company, has announced that it has more than doubled the size of its genetic testing platform to include more than 600 genes and will begin releasing the new content between now and the end of the year. Invitae is immediately expanding its menu with dozens of new test panels for hereditary cancer, cardiovascular, neuromuscular, pediatric and other rare disorders.

7 Oct 2015

Neurocrine completes enrollment in Phase III clinical trial of NBI-98854 in tardive dyskinesia patients

Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc. announced today that it has recently completed subject randomization of the Phase III clinical trial (Kinect 3 Study) of its proprietary Vesicular Mono-Amine Transporter 2 (VMAT2) compound NBI-98854 in tardive dyskinesia patients.

13 Aug 2015

International Neuromodulation Society recognizes third Giant of Neuromodulation

The International Neuromodulation Society recognized its third Giant of Neuromodulation at its 12th World Congress in Montreal in June - the first such awardee who is renowned for work in neuromodulation for movement disorder. The honor was given to Prof. Alim-Louis Benabid, MD, PhD, board chairman of the biomedical research center Clinatec in Grenoble.

10 Jun 2015

Children undergoing deep brain stimulation for generalized dystonia experience better outcomes

Children and adolescents who received deep brain stimulation for generalized dystonia maintained significant symptom relief for up to eight years, according to a study presented today at the 12th World Congress of the International Neuromodulation Society.

10 Jun 2015

MIT researchers find neural circuit that appears to cause decision-making in approach-avoidance conflict

Some decisions arouse far more anxiety than others. Among the most anxiety-provoking are those that involve options with both positive and negative elements, such choosing to take a higher-paying job in a city far from family and friends, versus choosing to stay put with less pay.

29 May 2015

Study finds similarity in clinical progression between human patients and Huntington's disease monkeys

Transgenic Huntington's disease monkeys show similarity to humans with Huntington's in their progressive neurodegeneration and decline of motor control, scientists from Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, report.

14 May 2015

Boston Scientific, Brainlab form strategic collaboration

Boston Scientific Corporation announces a collaboration with Brainlab AG, a leading software-driven medical technology company that helps improve patient treatment planning and surgical navigation.

28 Apr 2015

NTU Singapore scientists find new way to treat dementia

Pushing new frontiers in dementia research, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore) scientists have found a new way to treat dementia by sending electrical impulses to specific areas of the brain to enhance the growth of new brain cells.

6 Apr 2015

Rice University study reveals carbon nanotube fibers can provide two-way connection with neurons

Carbon nanotube fibers invented at Rice University may provide the best way to communicate directly with the brain.

26 Mar 2015

New treatment may bring hope for people suffering from muscle cramps

A new treatment may bring hope for people who suffer from muscle cramps or spasms from neuromuscular disorders, diseases such as multiple sclerosis or simply from nighttime leg cramps that keep people from sleeping, according to a study released today that will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology's 67th Annual Meeting in Washington, DC, April 18 to 25, 2015.

19 Feb 2015

Movement tracking device can effectively help assess progression of Parkinson's disease

A device that measures movement and balance can effectively help assess and track the progression of Parkinson's disease, even when medications are used to reduce Parkinson's symptoms, UT Southwestern Medical Center research found.

From APDM Wearable Technologies 4 Feb 2015

Inovalon announces list of organizations supported through its charitable contributions during 2014

Inovalon Holdings, Inc., a leading technology company providing advanced analytics and data-driven intervention platforms to the healthcare industry, today announced the list of organizations supported through its charitable contributions during 2014.

31 Dec 2014

Alim Louis Benabid, Mahlon DeLong jointly win 2014 Lasker-DeBakey Clinical Medical Research Award

French neurosurgeon Alim Louis Benabid and American neurologist Mahlon DeLong were recently named winners of the 2014 Lasker-DeBakey Clinical Medical Research Award for their roles in developing deep brain stimulation (DBS) for the treatment of Parkinson disease.

2 Dec 2014

Neurocrine Biosciences' NBI-98854 drug gets breakthrough designation for tardive dyskinesia

Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc. announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has granted Breakthrough Therapy Designation for its Vesicular Monoamine Transporter 2 inhibitor, NBI-98854, in tardive dyskinesia.

30 Oct 2014

Cedars-Sinai experts to present free conference on dystonia for patients, families and caregivers

A multidisciplinary team of experts affiliated with the Cedars-Sinai Movement Disorders Program will present a free conference for patients, families and caregivers on treatment options for dystonia, which causes painful and potentially crippling muscle contractions.

30 Sep 2014

Vercise DBS System receives CE Mark approval for treatment of essential tremor

Boston Scientific Corporation has received CE Mark for the Vercise Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) System for the treatment of tremor, including the most common form of this movement disorder known as essential tremor (ET).

17 Sep 2014