Virtual Dystonia Zoo Day on Saturday, September 25, 2021 includes a Chalk Art Contest! DMRF Member Kit Jester is championing this friendly challenge after discovering a new talent and passion for creating beautiful chalk art in his driveway to encourage people. How does the contest work? Create your very own chalk art masterpiece to promote […]
On Saturday, September 25, 2021, the dystonia community is uniting online for Virtual Dystonia Zoo Day to benefit the Dystonia Medical Research Foundation (DMRF). An estimated 2,500 people, representing all 50 US states, will take action together to boost dystonia awareness and raise funds for urgently-needed medical research. Signing up for the event is free […]
Several research teams reported major advances in the development of new drugs to treat movement disorders including dystonia. In one of the preclinical studies, investigators have identified several compounds that retain the beneficial effects of anticholinergic drugs like Artane® while eliminating side effects. Another research group successfully corrected dystonic brain abnormalities in mice with a […]
This article was published in the Dystonia Dialogue. Medical treatment for dystonia is available, but effectiveness varies. Few treatment options, on their own, provide 100% relief. Living well with dystonia often requires creative adaptations invented by those experiencing the disorder firsthand. An international team of clinicians recently published examples of the “self-concocted, curious, and creative” […]
This article was published in the Dystonia Dialogue. Svjetlana Miocinovic, MD, PhD is Assistant Professor in the Department of Neurology, Movement Disorders Section, at Emory University School of Medicine. Her research focus is on the electrophysiology of human motor circuits and the development of device-based therapies. Her clinical focus is using deep brain stimulation (DBS) […]
This article was published in the Dystonia Dialogue. Living well with dystonia often requires complex treatment plans, ongoing medical appointments, and careful self-monitoring of symptoms and response to treatment. Having a multi-level support system can help you feel and function at your personal best. Social support in particular can have dramatic and positive effects on […]
The benefits of exercise and physical activity for neurological disorders is well-known. Individuals with dystonia may experience numerous barriers to healthy levels of exercise, including the fact that physical activity sometimes worsens dystonia symptoms. A team of exercise scientists and physical therapy experts at University of Auckland in New Zealand conducted a survey of 260 […]
A protein in the brain called TorsinA is known to cause childhood onset dystonia when it cannot function properly due to genetic changes in the DYT1/TOR1A gene. This makes TorsinA a possible target for new treatment approaches. Numerous research teams across the world are investigating whether restoring normal TorsinA function could be an effective strategy […]
DMRF grantee Jesse Goldberg, MD, PhD, Associate Professor and Robert R. Capranica Fellow in the Department of Neurobiology and Behavior at Cornell University, has developed a groundbreaking new approach to studying dystonia and other movement disorders. The study of dystonia has always required posing fundamental questions about how the human brain controls and coordinates movement. […]
This article was published in the Dystonia Dialogue. “We’re experts in the diagnosis, pathophysiology, and management of any disabling condition,” explained John McGuire, MD, a physical medicine and rehabilitation (PM&R) specialist and Director of Stroke Rehabilitation & Spasticity Management at Froedtert Medical College of Wisconsin. PM&R physicians evaluate and treat patients with physical and cognitive […]
The Dystonia Medical Research Foundation (DMRF) has partnered with Frontiers to launch Dystonia, a Gold Open Access journal. The journal will bring visibility to the growing dystonia field and highlight advancements in science and clinical practice. “The field is ready for a journal focused solely on dystonia,” said Co-Editor-in-Chief Aasef Shaikh, MD, PhD, Penni and […]
This article was published in the Dystonia Dialogue. Dystonia is a neurological disorder that causes excessive, involuntary muscle contractions. These muscle contractions result in abnormal muscle movements and body postures, making it difficult for individuals to control their movements. People who live with dystonia may also experience a range of non-motor symptoms that dramatically impact […]
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