Abnormal interhemispheric inhibition in musician's dystonia - Trait or state?

Abstract

INTRODUCTION:

A clustering of relatives with dystonia has been reported in families with musician's dystonia suggesting a genetic contribution to this disease. The aim of the present study was to determine whether interhemispheric inhibition (IHI) measured with transcranial magnetic stimulation is impaired in healthy family members rendering it a suitable endophenotypic marker for musician's dystonia.

METHODS:

Patients with musician's hand dystonia (n = 21), patients with sporadic writer's cramp (n = 15), their healthy family members (n = 27), healthy musicians (n = 12) and healthy non-musicians (n = 12) were included. An extended interview about the family history and musical activity was performed. IHI in both hemispheres was measured using transcranial magnetic stimulation.

RESULTS:

A stepwise regression analysis revealed musical activity (p = 0.001) and a family history of dystonia (p = 0.008) but not dystonia per se, age, handedness or gender as relevant factors modulating IHI.

CONCLUSION:

These data support the notion of a genetic background of musician's hand dystonia and suggests that reduced IHI is a possible endophenotypic marker of this disorder.

• Authors: Tobias Bäumer, Alexander Schmidt, Marcus Heldmann, Moritz Landwehr, Anna Simmer, Diana Tönniges, Thomas Münte, Katja Lohmann, Eckart Altenmüller, Christine Klein, Alexander Münchau
• Journal: Parkinsonism & related disorders (Parkinsonism Relat Disord) Vol. 25 Pg. 33-8 (Apr 2016) ISSN: 1873-5126 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 26923523 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Brain (physiopathology)
• Dystonic Disorders (diagnosis, genetics, physiopathology)
• Female
• Genetic Predisposition to Disease
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Pedigree
• Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation