Glossary
A
Amino acid: a type of compound that is the building block of proteins.
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Athetosis: a condition in which abnormal muscle contraction causes involuntary writhing movements.
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B
Bradyarrythmia: a slow heart rate.
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Byproduct: a substance that is created in the process of making something else.
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C
Carer: someone who regularly looks after and provides care or assistance to someone, such as a child, an elderly person, or someone who is sick or disabled.
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Cerebral palsy: a disability resulting from damage to the brain before, during, or shortly after birth that causes issues with body movement, muscle tone, speech disturbances, and/or other medical issues.
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Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF): the fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord.
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Chorea: a neurological disorder characterised by jerky involuntary movements affecting especially the shoulders, hips and face.
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Choreoathetosis: the occurrence of involuntary movements in a combination of chorea (irregular migrating contractions) and athetosis (twisting and writhing).
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Clinical Geneticist: a physician who is trained to help identify and study genetic disorders.
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Computed tomography (CT): a scan that uses a series of X-ray images taken from different angles around the body and uses computer processing to create a cross-sectional image of the inside of the body.
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D
Deficiency: a lack or shortage of something.
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DDC (dopa decarboxylase) gene: a gene that provides instructions for making the enzyme aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase (AADC), which is important in the brain and nervous system.
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Diaphoresis: sweating, especially to an unusual degree as a symptom of disease or a side effect of a drug.
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Distal Chorea: non ryhthmic, jerky, rapid involuntary movement of the distal muscles and face.
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Diurnal: daily.
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Dyskinesia: abnormality or impairment of voluntary movement.
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Dysmotility: a variety of symptoms that occur when the gut does not work properly at moving its contents (food, drink, tablets, etc) along.
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Dysphonia: difficulty in speaking due to a physical disorder of the mouth, tongue, throat or vocal chords.
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Dystonia: uncontrolled and sometimes painful muscle movements (spasms).
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E
Electroencephalography (EEG): a test that looks at abnormalities in the brain by attaching small metal electrodes to the scalp in order to detect tiny electrical charges from brain activity.
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Enzyme: a substance that helps to bring about, speed up, or regulate chemical reactions.
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Epilepsy: a chronic disorder that causes sudden episodes in which the patient may lose consciousness, have his/her senses disrupted, shake uncontrollably, and/or show other symptoms (for example, seizures or fits); often caused by abnormal electrical activity in the brain.
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F
Flailing: waving or swinging wildly.
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G
Gastroenterologist: a medical professional who specialises in identifying and treating disorders of the stomach and intestines.
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General Practitioner: a medical professional who is trained to provide health care to patients of any gender or age.
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Genetic: relating to or determined by genes; something that is passed down through families and considered inherited.
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Genetic testing: a study of DNA to find differences, abnormalities, or changes that could cause disorders or to determine if a person has or will develop a certain disease.
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H
Hypertonia: spasticity and rigidity due to damage of the central nervous system.
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Hypokinesia: decreased spontaneous bodily movement. Characterised by a partial or complete loss of muscle movement.
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Hypotension: low blood pressure.
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Hypotonia: "floppy baby syndrome". A state of low muscle tone, often involving reduced muscle strength.
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Hypotonia: low muscle tone, often involving reduced muscle strength.
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I
Involuntary: done without conscious control.
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L
Lumbar puncture: a medical procedure in which fluid from the spine is removed with a needle; often done for diagnostic testing. Also called a spinal tap.
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M
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): a test that uses a magnetic field and radio waves to create detailed images of the body’s organs and structures.
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Metabolite: any substance that is made during the changing of one chemical compound into another.
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Movement Disorder Specialist: a healthcare professional who has special training in disorders that affect someone’s ability to move, such as Parkinson’s disease, or that involve low muscle tone (hypotonia) or tremors.
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Muscle spasm: an uncontrolled tightening of a muscle that can cause a great deal of pain.
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Muscle tone: the amount of tension or resistance in a muscle at rest or in response to stretching.
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Mutation: a change that happens in a gene.
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Myoclonus: spasmodic jerky contraction of groups of muscles.
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N
Nervous system: an organ system of the body made up of the brain, spinal cord, and nerves.
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Neurological: relating to the makeup, functions, and disorders of the nervous system.
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Neuromuscular: relating to nerves and muscles.
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Neurotransmitter: a chemical substance that works as a messenger to send signals from one nerve cell to another.
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O
Occupational Therapist: a healthcare professional who works to help mentally, physically, and developmentally disabled patients improve their ability to participate in everyday activities.
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Oculogyric crises: periods of involuntary eye movements during which the eyes suddenly roll upward involuntarily; can last anywhere from a few seconds to hours, and can happen several times a day or several times a week.
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P
Parkinsonism: a clinical syndrome characterised by tremor, bradykinesia, rigidity and postural instability.
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Paediatrician: a medical professional who specialises in the development, care, and treatment of children and their diseases.
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Paediatric Neurologist: a medical professional who focuses on studying and treating diseases and conditions that affect the nervous system of children.
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Physical Therapist: a trained healthcare professional who helps patients reduce pain and strengthen muscles to improve mobility.
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Plasma: the colourless fluid part of blood.
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Precursor: a substance from which another substance is created.
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Ptosis: a drooping or falling of the upper eyelid.
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R
Reflux: to flow backward in the body, such as from the stomach.
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S
Seizure: a sudden attack, spasm, or convulsion, as in epilepsy or another disorder.
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Spasm: a sudden involuntary muscular contraction or convulsive movement.
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Speech Therapist: a healthcare professional who specialises in the treatment of speech and communication disorders.
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Stimulus: a thing or event that evokes a specific functional reaction in an organ or tissue.
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Symptom: an indication of a disease or a change in a condition that the patient notices.
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T
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Tremor: an involuntary, somewhat rhythmic, muscle contraction and relaxation involving oscillations or twitching movements of one or more body parts.