Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Alterations in Muscle Tone ll01:12

Alterations in Muscle Tone ll

Alterations in muscle tone are common manifestations of neurological disorders and reflect dysfunction within different nervous system regions. Spasticity, paratonia, and dystonia represent distinct forms of hypertonia, each with unique mechanisms, clinical features, and diagnostic importance.CharacteristicsSpasticity happens from upper motor neuron lesions and is characterized by velocity-dependent resistance to passive movement. Clinical features include:Exaggerated deep tendon reflexesClonus...
Parkinson's Disease: Overview01:15

Parkinson's Disease: Overview

Neurodegenerative disorders are progressive diseases that cause irreversible damage and loss to neurons in specific brain areas. Examples of these disorders include Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, Multiple Sclerosis (MS), and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). These disorders share characteristics such as proteinopathies, selective neuronal vulnerability, and a complex interplay between genetic and environmental factors. The primary therapeutic goal for these conditions is to...
Positive Symptoms of Schizophrenia: Hallucinations and Delusions01:30

Positive Symptoms of Schizophrenia: Hallucinations and Delusions

Schizophrenia is a complex mental health disorder that can manifest with various positive symptoms, including thought, movement, and behavior disorders. These symptoms significantly disrupt cognitive and motor functions, leading to profound effects on an individual's ability to engage with the world.
Thought Disorders
Disorganized and unusual thought processes mark thought disorders in schizophrenia. One key feature is disorganized speech, where an individual's conversation includes loosely...
Parkinson Disease ll: Pathophysiology01:24

Parkinson Disease ll: Pathophysiology

Parkinson disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder primarily affecting movement, with additional non-motor features. Its pathophysiology involves complex interactions among genetic susceptibility, environmental exposures, and cellular dysfunction, including dopaminergic neuron loss, protein aggregation, and mitochondrial impairment.Selective NeurodegenerationA key feature is the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta, leading to reduced...
Parkinson Disease l: Introduction01:24

Parkinson Disease l: Introduction

Parkinson’s disease is a chronic, progressive neurodegenerative disorder that primarily affects movement. It is characterized by motor symptoms such as resting tremors, muscle rigidity, bradykinesia (slowness of movement), and postural instability. Patients may notice hand tremors at rest, stiffness during movement, or a shuffling gait. In addition to motor features, non-motor symptoms include sleep disturbances, mood and behavioral changes, constipation, and cognitive impairment, all of which...
Parkinson's Disease: Treatment01:24

Parkinson's Disease: Treatment

Neurodegenerative disorders, such as Parkinson's Disease (PD), involve the gradual and irreversible destruction of neurons in particular brain areas. These disorders exhibit standard features like proteinopathies, selective vulnerability of some neurons, and an interaction of intrinsic properties, genetics, and environmental influences in neural injury.
Parkinson's Disease is primarily a result of the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta. The cornerstone of its...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Paratonia in advanced dementia: Challenges and evidence-based interventions.

Canadian family physician Medecin de famille canadien·2026
Same authorSame journal

Paratonia in Advanced Dementia: Deconstructing Scientific, Regulatory, and Health System Barriers to Botulinum Toxin A (BoNT-A) Treatment of Involuntary Muscle Resistance.

Journal of the American Medical Directors Association·2026
Same author

Opicapone in Parkinson's patients with motor fluctuations: clinical assessments and patient-reported outcomes from the OPTI-ON study.

Clinical parkinsonism & related disorders·2026
Same author

Diurnal-Only Foslevodopa/Foscarbidopa.

Movement disorders clinical practice·2026
Same author

Role of Objective and Subjective Cognitive Status on the Driving Habits of Older Canadians: A COMPASS-ND Study.

Canadian journal on aging = La revue canadienne du vieillissement·2026
Same author

Dementia Care Research and Psychosocial Factors.

Alzheimer's & dementia : the journal of the Alzheimer's Association·2025
Same journal

Charting a New Course in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Paratonia.

Journal of the American Medical Directors Association·2026
Same journal

Nursing Home Entry in Sweden: The Role of Sociodemographic Factors, Health, and Dementia.

Journal of the American Medical Directors Association·2026
Same journal

Participation in Community Gathering Places and Subsequent Care Costs in Older Adults: A 2-Year Follow-Up Study.

Journal of the American Medical Directors Association·2026
Same journal

A Novel Dyadic Psychological Intervention for Depression Initiated During Short-Term Skilled Nursing Facility Stays.

Journal of the American Medical Directors Association·2026
Same journal

Where You Are Matters: Neighborhood Impacts on Nursing Home Staffing Levels.

Journal of the American Medical Directors Association·2026
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 9, 2026

Handwriting Analysis Indicates Spontaneous Dyskinesias in Neuroleptic Naïve Adolescents at High Risk for Psychosis
05:52

Handwriting Analysis Indicates Spontaneous Dyskinesias in Neuroleptic Naïve Adolescents at High Risk for Psychosis

Published on: November 21, 2013

Paratonia in Advanced Dementia: A Frequently Misunderstood Movement Disorder.

Giulia-Anna Perri1, Hans Hobbelen2, Jessica Cuppage3

  • 1Division of Palliative Care, Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Austin Centre for Neurology and Behavioral Supports, Baycrest Health Sciences, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Journal of the American Medical Directors Association
|June 8, 2026
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Paratonia, an involuntary muscle stiffening common in advanced dementia, is often misunderstood. Recognizing it as a reflex, not resistance, is key to preventing complications and improving care.

Keywords:
Paratoniabotulinum toxincaregiver burdendementiamovement disordersnursing home

More Related Videos

Characterizing the Relationship Between Eye Movement Parameters and Cognitive Functions in Non-demented Parkinson's Disease Patients with Eye Tracking
07:26

Characterizing the Relationship Between Eye Movement Parameters and Cognitive Functions in Non-demented Parkinson's Disease Patients with Eye Tracking

Published on: September 26, 2019

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 9, 2026

Handwriting Analysis Indicates Spontaneous Dyskinesias in Neuroleptic Naïve Adolescents at High Risk for Psychosis
05:52

Handwriting Analysis Indicates Spontaneous Dyskinesias in Neuroleptic Naïve Adolescents at High Risk for Psychosis

Published on: November 21, 2013

Characterizing the Relationship Between Eye Movement Parameters and Cognitive Functions in Non-demented Parkinson's Disease Patients with Eye Tracking
07:26

Characterizing the Relationship Between Eye Movement Parameters and Cognitive Functions in Non-demented Parkinson's Disease Patients with Eye Tracking

Published on: September 26, 2019

Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Geriatrics
  • Movement Disorders

Background:

  • Paratonia is a common but underrecognized movement disorder in advanced dementia.
  • It manifests as involuntary muscle stiffening, often mistaken for intentional resistance.
  • Untreated paratonia can lead to contractures, pain, pressure injuries, and caregiving challenges.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To provide clinicians with practical guidance for recognizing paratonia.
  • To differentiate paratonia from behavioral disturbances.
  • To outline assessment and management strategies for paratonia.

Main Methods:

  • Clinical review synthesizing current knowledge on paratonia.
  • Inclusion of three illustrative case studies across different care settings.
  • Discussion of assessment, pharmacologic, and non-pharmacologic management.

Main Results:

  • Paratonia is a reflexive phenomenon, not a behavioral issue.
  • Case studies highlight diverse clinical presentations.
  • Guidance provided on avoiding certain medications and when to seek specialist referral.

Conclusions:

  • Early recognition and appropriate management of paratonia are crucial.
  • Distinguishing paratonia from resistance improves patient outcomes and care.
  • A comprehensive approach involving assessment and tailored interventions is recommended.