Bradykinesia is a medical term that means difficult or slow movement. When someone has bradykinesia, they may also experience muscle weakness, stiffness, or shaking. There are several possible causes of bradykinesia, such as having an underactive thyroid gland (hypothyroidism), being exposed to harmful substances (toxins), or having a brain tumor.
Bradykinesia can happen because of different health problems, including having a brain tumor or a stroke. However, it is most commonly linked to Parkinson’s disease. Doctors often look for bradykinesia as one of the main signs when diagnosing Parkinson’s disease.
What is it?
Bradykinesia refers to difficult or slow movement. An individual with bradykinesia can take much longer than normal to make routine movements, like lifting their limbs. As Parkinson’s disease progresses, bradykinesia may worsen, making it increasingly difficult for an individual to move and react.
However, it affects people in different ways. Individuals experience varying characteristics of this condition, and not each person goes through the same progression. It is linked to akinesia, which includes delayed reactions, numbing during movement, or a lack of ability to move.
Individuals often utilize the words bradykinesia, akinesia, and hypokinesia reciprocally, but they have distinct meanings:
- Akinesia expresses “absence of movement.”
- Hypokinesia expresses “smallness of movement.”
- Bradykinesia expresses “slowness of movement.”
An individual alongside akinesia is not able to move because they cannot produce enough power. In contrast, an individual with bradykinesia can move, but very gradually. Both conditions can be characteristics of Parkinson’s disease.
Advanced medical technology has assisted experts in better differentiating between these terms and giving more particular descriptions of signs.
Symptoms of Bradykinesia
In addition to gradual reflexes and movements, an individual alongside bradykinesia can feel several other symptoms. These can include motionless or freeze muscles, restricted facial expression, a dragging or shuffling gait foot while walking, difficulty performing repetitive tasks like typing, and issues while swallowing and speaking. These symptoms can significantly impact an individual’s motion and capacity to do daily work.
Individuals with bradykinesia can also feel a “sequence effect,” where their movement patterns modify during work. For instance, their steps may get smaller and smaller as they keep walking. This change in movement can make it even more challenging for them to perform everyday activities.
Diagnosis of Bradykinesia
To determine bradykinesia, healthcare providers utilize the “BRAIN” test. In this test, the person is asked to quickly tap on a keypad using different fingers for 60 seconds.
The doctor evaluates the test based on three criteria:
- The no. of correct keys stroked
- The no. of incorrect keys stroked.
- The period it takes to strike the keys.
The outcomes of the BRAIN test help diagnose whether someone develops bradykinesia and the severity of the condition. This test is also useful in diagnosing Parkinson’s disease.
Treatment
Bradykinesia treatment depends on its cause. If it is due to a stroke or brain tumor, doctors may suggest medication, surgery, or other ways to address these conditions.
However, bradykinesia most frequently happens with Parkinson’s disease, which results in the brain with low levels of dopamine. One treatment approach focuses on boosting the levels of dopamine in the body. Examples of dopamine-boosting medicines involve monoamine oxidase type B (MAO-B) inhibitors, levodopa (Sinemet), and dopamine agonists. Levodopa can alleviate some features of bradykinesia, but it does not stop the condition from getting bad.
If medications don’t work, deep brain stimulation (DBS) could be an alternative. During DBS, a surgeon places electrodes in the brain and also a neurostimulator below the skin, like a pacemaker. These are connected by a wire. The neurostimulator carries electrical signals through the wire and electrodes to the brain, which can help reduce symptoms by altering electrical signals.
Other less invasive treatments for bradykinesia include exercise and physical therapy. Studies show these can strengthen muscles and possibly improve brain function. It’s important to talk to a healthcare provider before making big changes to your daily routine to make sure they’re right for you.
Causes of Bradykinesia
Researchers still don’t know correctly why bradykinesia happens, but it seems to be linked to modifications in the nervous system that affect movement. Particular parts of the brain, like the basal ganglia and other connected areas like the cerebellum and the primary motor cortex are involved. Modifications in how the body responds to sensory information, called sensorimotor processing, might also be a factor.
Bradykinesia can happen with different types of Parkinson’s disease, involving vascular parkinsonism, which is caused by changes in blood flow to the brain. Other reasons for bradykinesia include contact with toxins, low thyroid hormone levels (hypothyroidism), certain medications used for psychosis, fluid buildup in the brain (hydrocephalus), multiple system atrophy, brain tumors, or strokes.
When healthcare providers are trying to figure out if someone has Parkinson’s disease, they might use brain scans and other examinations to eliminate these possible causes.
Summary
Bradykinesia, characterized by slow or difficult movement, often occurs with Parkinson’s disease and involves symptoms like muscle stiffness, limited facial expression, and difficulty with repetitive tasks. Diagnosis typically involves the “BRAIN” test, which assesses the speed and accuracy of finger taps on a keyboard.
Treatment depends on the cause and may include medications to boost dopamine levels, deep brain stimulation, physical therapy, and exercise. The exact cause of bradykinesia is unknown but involves changes in nervous system networks affecting movement, with possible links to various neurological conditions. Diagnosis may include brain scans to rule out other causes such as exposure to toxins, hypothyroidism, and strokes.
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