NIH Studies into Motor Movement Disorders

On February 12, 2015, Dr. Dietrich Haubenberger, Director of the Clinical Trials Unit with NIH/NINDS, gave a captivating presentation and discussion on Essential Tremor research and its relationship with other motor movement disorders.

While there continues to be research to find a common factor that can be used in the treatment of ET, it has become increasingly evident that ET may be migrating back to an overall descriptive for multiple sub-categories of specific movement disorders that are being discovered and defined in greater detail.

ET vs Dystonia

As the result of more recent research, it is believed that some previous ET diagnosis may actually be Dystonia. Among the key indicators are, if only one side is affected by tremor and has cramp-like features, it would likely will be Dystonia. Areas that can be influenced are a person’s walking gait and head-eye movement coordination.
A number of musicians, athletes in repetitive motion sports, and writers are known to have Dystonia.

The Cerebellum

The Cerebellum, also known as our ‘Little Brain’, is a clearing house center for muscle movement. While it does not initiate movement, it does mitigate the movement and acts as a gentle braking mechanism to allow coordinated motor movement. Otherwise, our muscle movement would be sporadic and uncontrolled. This coordination between initiated neural pulses and the Cerebellum allows constant adjustments and learning adaptation for fine motor movement.

Time went by quickly during Dr. Haubenberger’s presentation and we all look forward to further presentations and discussions with him in the future as his research continues.

Bruce Edwards
Falls Church Support Group

1 thought on “NIH Studies into Motor Movement Disorders”

  1. I don’t usually talk much on the internet but I had to open up this time because a miracle happened in my life and my uncle’s life. After struggling with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis ALS/MND, and My uncle with Parkinson’s Disease PD too, for five years, We finally got helped by Dr. Ziza’s, Worldherbsclinic Head doctor. keeping it to myself will be selfish of me. We used his herbal remedy for Three months and was fully reversed and now we have no symptoms of both condition. I urge you all having ALS/MND, and Parkinson’s PD to give him a try. Worldherbsclinic will live forever.

Leave a Comment