Building a Multi-Level Support System

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 […]

High Impact Exercise More Likely to Worsen Dystonia

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 […]

TorsinA Restoration in DYT1 Dystonia Model Identifies a Critical Therapeutic Window

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-Funded Investigators Develop New Approach to Studying Motor Control

Neurons

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. […]

What is a Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Physician?

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 […]

DMRF Launches First Scientific Journal Dedicated to Dystonia

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 […]

Dystonia, Depression & Anxiety

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 […]

Journeys into Parenthood

dystonia coping

This article was published in the Dystonia Dialogue. The path to becoming a parent for individuals in the dystonia community is as varied as society at large. There are more options than ever for having children: biologically, via reproductive medicine, fostering, and adoption. Parents with dystonia may encounter challenges that parents without health issues might […]

Become a Dystonia Advocate

Dystonia Advocacy Day on Capitol Hill

You can educate Members of Congress about dystonia and how it changes lives. Join us to support the Dystonia Advocacy Network’s virtual advocacy agenda, launching March 3, 2021. Register today. Join dedicated volunteers from across the country to advocate for the dystonia community on important issues like funding for research, creating research funding opportunities through […]

Dystonia: Frequently Asked Questions

This article was originally published in the Dystonia Dialogue. What is dystonia? Dystonia is a brain disorder resulting in involuntary, abnormal postures or movements of the body due to excessive muscle contractions. Dystonia may be the only neurological disorder a person has, or the dystonia may be part of a medical condition or disease with […]

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