Study of Behavioral Dysfunctions and Related Neuronal Correlates in Patients With Dystonia

Summary

Dystonias represent hyperkinetic movement disorders characterized by protracted muscle contractions, such as to cause torsional movements and anomalous postures in different parts of the body. Although they occur more often in a focal form (blepharospasm, oromandibular dystonia, cervical dystonia, laryngeal dystonia, attitudinal cramps of the limbs) than segmental (involvement of several contiguous muscle groups, e.g. facial muscles and neck muscles), they are nevertheless capable of significantly influencing the quality of life, with consequent social and health costs. Although described as a predominantly motor disorder, the presence of non-motor symptoms in dystonias associated with alteration of the fronto-striatal circuits is increasingly recognized. Neuroimaging studies have highlighted that the striatum and, more specifically, striatal dopamine, is involved in high cognitive processes such as attention, reward-based learning and decision making. Clinical conditions associated with cortico-striatal circuit dysfunction and abnormal meso-striatal or meso-cortical dopamine transmission also appear to influence temporal estimation, delay discounting, showing an impulsive preference for immediate rewards over delayed gratification.

Based on these premises, the present project aims to evaluate the cognitive and affective aspects of dystonias, in line with neuroimaging research documenting structural and functional dysfunctions in the respective brain regions.

Conditions

• Dystonia
• Neurologic Disorder
• NEUROSCIENCE

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

control group

the investigators have to assess the neuropsychological and psychological profile with specific questionnaire that evaluated the moral index, presence of obsessive and compulsive disorders and Montreal Cognitive Assessment to evaluate cognitive functions

BEHAVIORAL

experimental group

the investigators have to assess the neuropsychological and psychological profile with specific questionnaire that evaluated the moral index, presence of obsessive and compulsive disorders and Montreal Cognitive Assessment to evaluate cognitive functions

DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

EEG power in alpha band

partecipants were submitted to registration of electrical activity with EEG to study the EEG power in alpha band

Sponsors & Collaborators

• IRCCS Centro Neurolesi Bonino Pulejo

  lead OTHER

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

SCREENING

Masking

SINGLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

60 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2024-01-10

Primary Completion

2024-03-10

Completion

2025-10-10

Countries

• Italy

Study Locations