Diseases originating in the basal ganglia
Dysfunctions in the area of the basal ganglia can have far-reaching consequences for motor and non-motor processes in the body. For this reason, the diseases triggered by disorders of the basal ganglia often show clinically by a pronounced symptomatology. Among the best-known diseases associated with the Basal Ganglia are
- Parkinson’s syndromes such as Parkinson’s disease
- Dystonia syndromes (diseases with pronounced movement disorders)
- Choreatic syndromes like Chorea Huntington
- Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
- Tic disorders like Tourette’s syndrome
Parkinson’s disease (synonyms: Parkinson’s disease, shaking disease) is one of the best known diseases that is associated with dysfunctions of the basal ganglia.
This disease is a creeping, progressive neurodegenerative process. The cause of Parkinson’s disease is the destruction of dopamine-producing nerve cells in the so-called grey matter (substantia nigra). The immediate consequence is a deficiency of the messenger substance dopamine and a concomitant reduction in the activating influences of the basal ganglia on the cerebral cortex.
The most common symptoms of Parkinson’s disease are pronounced muscular rigidity (rigor) and the slowing of movement (bradykinesis), which over time can turn into complete immobility (akinesia). In addition, patients suffering from Parkinson’s disease often exhibit marked muscle tremor and postural instability (postural instability). The first symptoms of this basal ganglia-dependent disease usually occur between the ages of 50 and 79.
Only in rare cases are patients affected before the age of 40. The treatment of Parkinson’s disease is mainly drug-based. However, the direct administration of dopamine or dopamine-like substances should be delayed as long as possible.
The reason for this is the decreasing response to the commonly used drugs after a period of several years. The disease known as “Chorea Huntington” (synonym: Huntington’s disease) is a hitherto incurable disease. Huntington’s disease is one of the most dreaded hereditary diseases of the brain and is one of the diseases associated with basal ganglia.
The affected patients show a progressive destruction of the striatum. Since this part of the basal ganglia mainly provides information from the area of muscle control and mental functions, the affected patients show a pronounced symptomatology. The first symptoms usually appear between the ages of 30 and 40.
In everyday clinical practice it can be observed that the severity of the disease is closely related to the appearance of the first symptoms. The earlier the disease appears, the more severe is its course. In the initial stage, the affected persons suffer from unwanted, unsuppressible movements (hyperkinesia) and generally reduced muscle tone.
In the course of the disease, however, increasing lack of movement (hypokinesia) and increased muscle tone become apparent. Furthermore, most patients suffer from pronounced psychological dysfunctions years before the first functional disturbances of the movement sequences occur.
