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Substance abuse and movement disorders.

John C M Brust¹

¹Department of Neurology, Harlem Hospital Center, New York, New York 10037, USA. jcb2@columbia.edu

Movement Disorders : Official Journal of the Movement Disorder Society

|August 20, 2010

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Substance abuse, including ethanol, illicit drugs, and tobacco, can cause or worsen various movement disorders. However, some substances like ethanol and tobacco may offer protection against certain neurological conditions.

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Area of Science:

Neurology
Toxicology
Substance Abuse Research

Background:

Movement disorders are frequently linked to the use of ethanol, illicit drugs, and tobacco.
Ethanol withdrawal can manifest as tremor, parkinsonism, chorea, and myoclonus.
Substance abuse is a critical factor to consider in diagnosing unexplained movement disorders.

Purpose of the Study:

To review the association between substance abuse and various movement disorders.
To highlight the dual role of ethanol in exacerbating and ameliorating specific movement disorders.
To emphasize the neurotoxic effects of certain illicit substances and the potential protective effects of tobacco.

Main Methods:

Literature review of studies investigating substance abuse and movement disorders.
Analysis of clinical presentations and neurological outcomes associated with different substances.
Categorization of movement disorders based on causative agents (ethanol, opioids, psychostimulants, tobacco).

Main Results:

Ethanol use is associated with withdrawal tremors, parkinsonism, chorea, myoclonus, and asterixis, but can also improve essential tremor and myoclonus-dystonia.
Opioids like meperidine can cause myoclonus; contamination with MPTP led to severe parkinsonism.
Heroin inhalation caused spongiform leukoencephalopathy, chorea, and myoclonus; psychostimulants like cocaine induce stereotypies and dyskinesias; phencyclidine causes myoclonus.
Tobacco use appears to protect against Parkinson's disease.

Conclusions:

Clinicians must consider substance abuse in patients presenting with unexplained movement disorders.
The relationship between substance abuse and movement disorders is complex, with both detrimental and potentially beneficial effects observed.
Understanding these associations is crucial for accurate diagnosis and patient management.