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Pathological laughter and crying in patients with multiple system atrophy-cerebellar type
Josef Parvizi1, Jeffrey Joseph, Daniel Z Press
1Department of Neurology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. jparvizi@ucla.edu
Movement Disorders : Official Journal of the Movement Disorder Society
|February 10, 2007
Summary
Multiple system atrophy (MSA-C) can cause emotional dysregulation, including pathological laughter. This suggests the cerebellum plays a role in controlling emotional expression.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Neuroscience
- Pathology
Background:
- Cerebellar multiple system atrophy (MSA-C) primarily affects cerebellar and brainstem structures, leading to motor dysfunction.
- Emotional expression dysregulation, such as pathological laughter, is not widely recognized as a common symptom in MSA-C.
Observation:
- A patient with MSA-C presented with pathological laughter unrelated to mood changes.
- Review of 27 other MSA-C patients revealed emotional dysregulation (pathological laughter/crying) in 9 (36%).
Findings:
- Pathological emotional expression occurs in approximately 36% of MSA-C patients.
- This prevalence is higher than previously reported in the literature.
Implications:
- The cerebellum and its connected pathways may be crucial in regulating emotional expression.
- Increased awareness of emotional dysregulation in MSA-C is warranted for improved patient care.
- Further research into the neurobiological mechanisms underlying emotional control in MSA-C is needed.
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