This review visualizes the knowledge domain of motor speech disorders(MSDs) in linguistics between 2000 and 2019 by means of scientometric methods. With topic searches, the study collected 869 bibliographic records an...This review visualizes the knowledge domain of motor speech disorders(MSDs) in linguistics between 2000 and 2019 by means of scientometric methods. With topic searches, the study collected 869 bibliographic records and 20, 411 references from Web of Science Core Collection(WoSCC) of Thomson Reuter. The clustered and visualized document co-citation network of the MSDs knowledge domain in CiteSpace identifies 15 research foci in different periods, including apraxia of speech, acoustics, children, technology, aphemia, childhood apraxia of speech, primary progressive aphasia, speech motor delay, Parkinson’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, rhythm,foreign accent syndrome, phonation, phonological awareness, dose and speech perception.Revolving around linguistics, these foci could be divided into studies on speech characteristics of MSDs in terms of phonology and phonetics, remedies for MSDs in terms of neurolinguistics and acoustic phonetics, dysarthria secondary to neurological diseases based on pathological linguistics,subtypes of apraxia of speech, methods of MSDs based on auditory phonetics and a newly recognized subtype of MSDs. Meanwhile, the emerging trends of MSDs in linguistics are detected by the analysis of reference citation bursts, suggesting growing research in remedies for MSDs with the focus on assessments and effectiveness of treatments, speech characteristics and indexes of dysarthria secondary to neurological diseases and assistance to diagnose apraxia of speech. To sum up, the review has indicated that the acoustic measures to assess MSDs and acoustic remedies for dysarthria may not only be the past foci but also be future trends.展开更多
BACKGROUND The psychological state of patients with post stroke limb movement disorders undergoes a series of changes that affect rehabilitation training and recovery of limb motor function.AIM To determine the correl...BACKGROUND The psychological state of patients with post stroke limb movement disorders undergoes a series of changes that affect rehabilitation training and recovery of limb motor function.AIM To determine the correlation between motor rehabilitation and the psychological state of patients with limb movement disorders after stroke.METHODS Eighty patients with upper and lower limb dysfunction post stroke were retrospectively enrolled in our study.Based on Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale(HADS)scores measured before rehabilitation,patients with HADS scores≥8 were divided into the psychological group;otherwise,the patients were included in the normal group.Motor function and daily living abilities were compared between the normal and psychological groups.Correlations between the motor function and psychological status of patients,and between daily living ability and psychological status of patients were analyzed.RESULTS After 1,2,and 3 wk of rehabilitation,both the Fugl-Meyer assessment and Barthel index scores improved compared to their respective baseline scores(P<0.05).A greater degree of improvement was observed in the normal group compared to the psychological group(P<0.05).There was a negative correlation between negative emotions and limb rehabilitation(-0.592≤r≤-0.233,P<0.05),and between negative emotions and daily living ability(-0.395≤r≤-0.199,P<0.05).CONCLUSION There is a strong correlation between motor rehabilitation and the psychological state of patients with post stroke limb movement disorders.The higher the negative emotions,the worse the rehabilitation effect.展开更多
Multiple sclerosis is a chronic autoimmune disease of the central nervous system and is generally considered to be a non-traumatic,physically debilitating neurological disorder.In addition to experiencing motor disabi...Multiple sclerosis is a chronic autoimmune disease of the central nervous system and is generally considered to be a non-traumatic,physically debilitating neurological disorder.In addition to experiencing motor disability,patients with multiple sclerosis also experience a variety of nonmotor symptoms,including cognitive deficits,anxiety,depression,sensory impairments,and pain.However,the pathogenesis and treatment of such non-motor symptoms in multiple scle rosis are still under research.Preclinical studies for multiple sclerosis benefit from the use of disease-appropriate animal models,including experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis.Prior to understanding the pathophysiology and developing treatments for non-motor symptoms,it is critical to chara cterize the animal model in terms of its ability to replicate certain non-motor features of multiple sclerosis.As such,no single animal model can mimic the entire spectrum of symptoms.This review focuses on the non-motor symptoms that have been investigated in animal models of multiple sclerosis as well as possible underlying mechanisms.Further,we highlighted gaps in the literature to explain the nonmotor aspects of multiple sclerosis in expe rimental animal models,which will serve as the basis for future studies.展开更多
This work was carried out to investigate the efficacy of static and intermittent gravity inverted therapy techniques in improvement of motor apraxia and cognitive abilities in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). 30 childr...This work was carried out to investigate the efficacy of static and intermittent gravity inverted therapy techniques in improvement of motor apraxia and cognitive abilities in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). 30 children were randomly joined in this study into two groups;Group A (sensory integration therapy approach plus static and intermittent inversion therapy techniques) and Group B (sensory integration therapy approach only). Block design test was used to locate and follow constructional apraxia, computerized information processing speed test to locate and follow cognitive processing and grooved pegboard test was used to locate and follow fine motor skills. The variance between pre- and post-treatment results was highly significant in the study group in all variables. By comparison of the two groups in constructional apraxia variables test at post-treatment, there was a highly representative elevation in favour to study groups (p < 0.05). By comparison of the two groups in cognitive processing variable at post-treatment, there was a highly representative elevation in favour to study group (p < 0.05). By comparison of the two groups in fine motor skills variable at post-treatment, there was a highly representative elevation in favor to study group (p < 0.05). According to the outcomes of this study, it can be terminated that the sensory integration therapy approach plus static and intermittent inversion therapy techniques can be recommended in improvement constructional apraxia and cognitive processing abilities in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) children.展开更多
Introduction: The MNRI (Masgutova Neurosensorimotor Reflex Integration) method was developed in 1989 in Russia and has spread world-wide to treat individuals with certain types reflex development deficits, behavior di...Introduction: The MNRI (Masgutova Neurosensorimotor Reflex Integration) method was developed in 1989 in Russia and has spread world-wide to treat individuals with certain types reflex development deficits, behavior disorders, disorders of speech or language development, and learning disabilities. MNRI is based on techniques called “repatterning” or remodulation, meaning re-education, recoding the reflex nerve pathways specific for dynamic and postural reflex schemes. Objectives: Repatterning activates the extra pyramidal nervous system responsible for automatic mechanisms and processes, the extension of links between neurons, the growth of neural nets, myelination, and the creation of new nerve routing. This potential result was tested utilizing urinary measurements of the following neurotransmitters: epinephrine, norepinephrine, dopamine, DOPAC, serotonin, 5-HIAA, glycine, taurine, GABA, glutamate, PEA, and histamine. Methods: Neurological impact of the Masgutova Neurosensorimotor Reflex Method on the magnitude of changes in neurotransmitters was assessed by an external controlled and double-blind method using patients from one of the four diagnosis groups: 1) global developmental disorders;2) cerebral palsy, Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), Acute Brain Injury (ABI), and seizures;3) ADD/ADHD;and 4) anxiety disorders. Results: The post-MNRI results in participants show a tendency for regulation of the above neurotransmitters resulting in their calming down, decrease of hypervigilance, stress resilience increase, improvements in behavioral and emotional regulation, positive emotions, and cognitive processes control. Conclusion: The application of the Masgutova Neurosensorimotor Reflex Method as a therapy modality offers a novelty paradigm for the treatment using neuro- and immune-modulation technologies presenting a non-pharmaceutical approach, based on use of neurosensorimotor reflex circuit concept.展开更多
Objective and accurate assessment of the degree of ocular motor nerve palsy is helpful not only in the evaluation of prognosis, but also for the screening of treatment methods. However, there is currently no comprehen...Objective and accurate assessment of the degree of ocular motor nerve palsy is helpful not only in the evaluation of prognosis, but also for the screening of treatment methods. However, there is currently no comprehensive measure of its severity. In this study, we designed the Ocular Motor Nerve Palsy Scale and investigated its validity and reliability. Six experts were invited to grade and evaluate the scale. The study recruited 106 patients with a definite diagnosis of unilateral isolated ocular motor nerve palsy. Three physicians evaluated the patients using the scale. One of the three physicians evaluated the patients again after 24 hours. The content validity index（CVI） and factor analysis were used to analyze the scale＇s construct validity. The intraclass correlation coefficient and Cronbach＇s alpha were used to evaluate the inter-rater and test-retest reliability and the internal consistency. The CVI results（I-CVI = 1.0, S-CVI = 0.9, Pc = 0.016, K＊ = 1） indicated good content validity. Factor analysis extracted two common factors that accounted for 85.2% of the variance. Furthermore, the load value of each component was above 0.8, indicating good construct validity. The Ocular Motor Nerve Palsy Scale was found to be highly reliable, with an inter-rater reliability intraclass correlation coefficient of 0.965（P 0.01）, a test-retest reliability intraclass correlation coefficient of 0.976（P 0.01）, and Cronbach＇s alpha values of 0.63–0.70. In conclusion, the Ocular Motor Nerve Palsy Scale with good validity and reliability can be used to quantify the severity of ocular motor nerve palsy. This study was registered at Chinese Clinical Trial Registry（registration number： Chi CTR-OOC-17010702）.展开更多
AIM: To summarize research regarding the motor abilities of children and adolescents who suffer from a common psychiatric condition.METHODS: In order to outline the current knowledge regarding the motor abilities of c...AIM: To summarize research regarding the motor abilities of children and adolescents who suffer from a common psychiatric condition.METHODS: In order to outline the current knowledge regarding the motor abilities of children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorders(ASD), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder(ADHD), disruptive behavior disorders(DBD) and depression, a comprehensive systematic literature search was carried out using Pub Med, Medline and ERIC databases. The databases were searched for relevant English language articles published between January 1990 and April 2014. Only studies that conducted a quantitative evaluation of motor ability and concerned individuals aged 0-18 years were included. A separate search was conducted for each disorder(ASD, ADHD, DBD, depression) in conjunction with each of the following keywords:(psycho/perceptuo) motor/movement skill(s),(psycho/perceptuo) motor/movement abilities,(psycho/perceptuo) motor/movement impairment,(psycho/perceptuo) motor/movement problem(s), motor function, motor coordination, motor performance, motor deficit(s). To detect supplementary relevant literature, the reference lists of the retrieved articles were examined. RESULTS: The search strategy yielded 51 studies meeting the inclusion criteria. In total, 28 studies were included that examined the motor abilities of children and adolescents with ASD. All studies indicated that they performed below average on various standardized motor assessment instruments. The overall prevalence rate for impairment in motor abilities ranged from 33% to 100%. Twenty-seven studies examined the motor abilities of children and adolescents with ADHD. Depending on the type of motor assessment tool and the cut-off points used by different researchers, prevalence rates of impairment in motor abilities are highly variable and ranged from 8% to 73%. Remarkably, there is a paucity of research addressing the motor abilities of individuals with DBD or depression. Furthermore, methodological problems, such as measurement and comorbidity issues, complicate the generalization of the findings. CONCLUSION: Research suggests that motor impairment is highly prevalent in some psychiatric conditions, particularly ASD and ADHD. However, future work is necessary to draw sound conclusions.展开更多
Primary impairments of developmental coordination disorder (DCD) include impairments in motor skill, motor learning, and imitation. Such difficulties present challenges for individuals with DCD and may persist into ad...Primary impairments of developmental coordination disorder (DCD) include impairments in motor skill, motor learning, and imitation. Such difficulties present challenges for individuals with DCD and may persist into adulthood, negatively impacting daily life in school, work, and social domains. A better understanding of the neural correlates of motor and imitation impairments in DCD holds the potential for informing development of treatment approaches to address these impairments. Although the disorder is assumed to be of neurological origin, little is known of the brain-based etiology of DCD. In recent years the discovery of a fronto-parietal circuit—known as the mirror neuron system—has enabled researchers to better understand imitation, general motor functions, and aspects of social cognition. Given its involvement in imitation and other motor functions, we propose that dysfunction in the mirror neuron system may underlie the characteristic impairments of DCD. We review literature pertaining to the mirror neuron system and develop a theory of disordered mirror neuron functioning in DCD. Finally, we review the limited neuroimaging literature available on neural correlates of DCD and show that the findings from those investigations are congruent with a mirror neuron system theory of DCD. Future research in this population should be designed to investigate specifically mirror neuron regions in individuals with DCD during skilled motor tasks and imitation in particular.展开更多
Introduction: Antibodies to voltage-gated potassium channels have been implicated in causing a host of peripheral and central nervous system disorders. However, the presence of these antibodies has not been previously...Introduction: Antibodies to voltage-gated potassium channels have been implicated in causing a host of peripheral and central nervous system disorders. However, the presence of these antibodies has not been previously associated with motor neuropathy. We describe the first case of acquired motor neuron disease associated with voltage-gated potas-sium channel antibodies. Case Report: The patient is an 81-year-old female who developed signs and symptoms of an idiopathic motor neuron disease. The patient was found to have increased antibodies to voltage-gated potassium chan-nels in the absence of a known metastatic or autoimmune process. Magnetic resonance imaging of the cervical spine demonstrated increased signal in the anterior horn regions of the cervical and upper thoracic spinal cord on T2-weighted imaging. The patient’s disease progression was refractory to both intravenous immunoglobulin and ster-oid therapy. Conclusion: Voltage-gated potassium channels may be causal or simply associated with motor neuron disease;this relationship needs to be elucidated. Testing for these antibodies may be warranted in cases of idiopathic rapidly progressing motor neuron disease.展开更多
文摘This review visualizes the knowledge domain of motor speech disorders(MSDs) in linguistics between 2000 and 2019 by means of scientometric methods. With topic searches, the study collected 869 bibliographic records and 20, 411 references from Web of Science Core Collection(WoSCC) of Thomson Reuter. The clustered and visualized document co-citation network of the MSDs knowledge domain in CiteSpace identifies 15 research foci in different periods, including apraxia of speech, acoustics, children, technology, aphemia, childhood apraxia of speech, primary progressive aphasia, speech motor delay, Parkinson’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, rhythm,foreign accent syndrome, phonation, phonological awareness, dose and speech perception.Revolving around linguistics, these foci could be divided into studies on speech characteristics of MSDs in terms of phonology and phonetics, remedies for MSDs in terms of neurolinguistics and acoustic phonetics, dysarthria secondary to neurological diseases based on pathological linguistics,subtypes of apraxia of speech, methods of MSDs based on auditory phonetics and a newly recognized subtype of MSDs. Meanwhile, the emerging trends of MSDs in linguistics are detected by the analysis of reference citation bursts, suggesting growing research in remedies for MSDs with the focus on assessments and effectiveness of treatments, speech characteristics and indexes of dysarthria secondary to neurological diseases and assistance to diagnose apraxia of speech. To sum up, the review has indicated that the acoustic measures to assess MSDs and acoustic remedies for dysarthria may not only be the past foci but also be future trends.
基金The study was reviewed and approved by the First Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Science and Technology(Approval No.2022-03-B160).
文摘BACKGROUND The psychological state of patients with post stroke limb movement disorders undergoes a series of changes that affect rehabilitation training and recovery of limb motor function.AIM To determine the correlation between motor rehabilitation and the psychological state of patients with limb movement disorders after stroke.METHODS Eighty patients with upper and lower limb dysfunction post stroke were retrospectively enrolled in our study.Based on Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale(HADS)scores measured before rehabilitation,patients with HADS scores≥8 were divided into the psychological group;otherwise,the patients were included in the normal group.Motor function and daily living abilities were compared between the normal and psychological groups.Correlations between the motor function and psychological status of patients,and between daily living ability and psychological status of patients were analyzed.RESULTS After 1,2,and 3 wk of rehabilitation,both the Fugl-Meyer assessment and Barthel index scores improved compared to their respective baseline scores(P<0.05).A greater degree of improvement was observed in the normal group compared to the psychological group(P<0.05).There was a negative correlation between negative emotions and limb rehabilitation(-0.592≤r≤-0.233,P<0.05),and between negative emotions and daily living ability(-0.395≤r≤-0.199,P<0.05).CONCLUSION There is a strong correlation between motor rehabilitation and the psychological state of patients with post stroke limb movement disorders.The higher the negative emotions,the worse the rehabilitation effect.
基金supported by a grant from the National Research Foundation(NRF)of Korea funded by the Korean Government,No.NRF-2022R1A2C1004022(to CM)。
文摘Multiple sclerosis is a chronic autoimmune disease of the central nervous system and is generally considered to be a non-traumatic,physically debilitating neurological disorder.In addition to experiencing motor disability,patients with multiple sclerosis also experience a variety of nonmotor symptoms,including cognitive deficits,anxiety,depression,sensory impairments,and pain.However,the pathogenesis and treatment of such non-motor symptoms in multiple scle rosis are still under research.Preclinical studies for multiple sclerosis benefit from the use of disease-appropriate animal models,including experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis.Prior to understanding the pathophysiology and developing treatments for non-motor symptoms,it is critical to chara cterize the animal model in terms of its ability to replicate certain non-motor features of multiple sclerosis.As such,no single animal model can mimic the entire spectrum of symptoms.This review focuses on the non-motor symptoms that have been investigated in animal models of multiple sclerosis as well as possible underlying mechanisms.Further,we highlighted gaps in the literature to explain the nonmotor aspects of multiple sclerosis in expe rimental animal models,which will serve as the basis for future studies.
文摘This work was carried out to investigate the efficacy of static and intermittent gravity inverted therapy techniques in improvement of motor apraxia and cognitive abilities in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). 30 children were randomly joined in this study into two groups;Group A (sensory integration therapy approach plus static and intermittent inversion therapy techniques) and Group B (sensory integration therapy approach only). Block design test was used to locate and follow constructional apraxia, computerized information processing speed test to locate and follow cognitive processing and grooved pegboard test was used to locate and follow fine motor skills. The variance between pre- and post-treatment results was highly significant in the study group in all variables. By comparison of the two groups in constructional apraxia variables test at post-treatment, there was a highly representative elevation in favour to study groups (p < 0.05). By comparison of the two groups in cognitive processing variable at post-treatment, there was a highly representative elevation in favour to study group (p < 0.05). By comparison of the two groups in fine motor skills variable at post-treatment, there was a highly representative elevation in favor to study group (p < 0.05). According to the outcomes of this study, it can be terminated that the sensory integration therapy approach plus static and intermittent inversion therapy techniques can be recommended in improvement constructional apraxia and cognitive processing abilities in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) children.
文摘Introduction: The MNRI (Masgutova Neurosensorimotor Reflex Integration) method was developed in 1989 in Russia and has spread world-wide to treat individuals with certain types reflex development deficits, behavior disorders, disorders of speech or language development, and learning disabilities. MNRI is based on techniques called “repatterning” or remodulation, meaning re-education, recoding the reflex nerve pathways specific for dynamic and postural reflex schemes. Objectives: Repatterning activates the extra pyramidal nervous system responsible for automatic mechanisms and processes, the extension of links between neurons, the growth of neural nets, myelination, and the creation of new nerve routing. This potential result was tested utilizing urinary measurements of the following neurotransmitters: epinephrine, norepinephrine, dopamine, DOPAC, serotonin, 5-HIAA, glycine, taurine, GABA, glutamate, PEA, and histamine. Methods: Neurological impact of the Masgutova Neurosensorimotor Reflex Method on the magnitude of changes in neurotransmitters was assessed by an external controlled and double-blind method using patients from one of the four diagnosis groups: 1) global developmental disorders;2) cerebral palsy, Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), Acute Brain Injury (ABI), and seizures;3) ADD/ADHD;and 4) anxiety disorders. Results: The post-MNRI results in participants show a tendency for regulation of the above neurotransmitters resulting in their calming down, decrease of hypervigilance, stress resilience increase, improvements in behavioral and emotional regulation, positive emotions, and cognitive processes control. Conclusion: The application of the Masgutova Neurosensorimotor Reflex Method as a therapy modality offers a novelty paradigm for the treatment using neuro- and immune-modulation technologies presenting a non-pharmaceutical approach, based on use of neurosensorimotor reflex circuit concept.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China,No.81674052
文摘Objective and accurate assessment of the degree of ocular motor nerve palsy is helpful not only in the evaluation of prognosis, but also for the screening of treatment methods. However, there is currently no comprehensive measure of its severity. In this study, we designed the Ocular Motor Nerve Palsy Scale and investigated its validity and reliability. Six experts were invited to grade and evaluate the scale. The study recruited 106 patients with a definite diagnosis of unilateral isolated ocular motor nerve palsy. Three physicians evaluated the patients using the scale. One of the three physicians evaluated the patients again after 24 hours. The content validity index（CVI） and factor analysis were used to analyze the scale＇s construct validity. The intraclass correlation coefficient and Cronbach＇s alpha were used to evaluate the inter-rater and test-retest reliability and the internal consistency. The CVI results（I-CVI = 1.0, S-CVI = 0.9, Pc = 0.016, K＊ = 1） indicated good content validity. Factor analysis extracted two common factors that accounted for 85.2% of the variance. Furthermore, the load value of each component was above 0.8, indicating good construct validity. The Ocular Motor Nerve Palsy Scale was found to be highly reliable, with an inter-rater reliability intraclass correlation coefficient of 0.965（P 0.01）, a test-retest reliability intraclass correlation coefficient of 0.976（P 0.01）, and Cronbach＇s alpha values of 0.63–0.70. In conclusion, the Ocular Motor Nerve Palsy Scale with good validity and reliability can be used to quantify the severity of ocular motor nerve palsy. This study was registered at Chinese Clinical Trial Registry（registration number： Chi CTR-OOC-17010702）.
文摘AIM: To summarize research regarding the motor abilities of children and adolescents who suffer from a common psychiatric condition.METHODS: In order to outline the current knowledge regarding the motor abilities of children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorders(ASD), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder(ADHD), disruptive behavior disorders(DBD) and depression, a comprehensive systematic literature search was carried out using Pub Med, Medline and ERIC databases. The databases were searched for relevant English language articles published between January 1990 and April 2014. Only studies that conducted a quantitative evaluation of motor ability and concerned individuals aged 0-18 years were included. A separate search was conducted for each disorder(ASD, ADHD, DBD, depression) in conjunction with each of the following keywords:(psycho/perceptuo) motor/movement skill(s),(psycho/perceptuo) motor/movement abilities,(psycho/perceptuo) motor/movement impairment,(psycho/perceptuo) motor/movement problem(s), motor function, motor coordination, motor performance, motor deficit(s). To detect supplementary relevant literature, the reference lists of the retrieved articles were examined. RESULTS: The search strategy yielded 51 studies meeting the inclusion criteria. In total, 28 studies were included that examined the motor abilities of children and adolescents with ASD. All studies indicated that they performed below average on various standardized motor assessment instruments. The overall prevalence rate for impairment in motor abilities ranged from 33% to 100%. Twenty-seven studies examined the motor abilities of children and adolescents with ADHD. Depending on the type of motor assessment tool and the cut-off points used by different researchers, prevalence rates of impairment in motor abilities are highly variable and ranged from 8% to 73%. Remarkably, there is a paucity of research addressing the motor abilities of individuals with DBD or depression. Furthermore, methodological problems, such as measurement and comorbidity issues, complicate the generalization of the findings. CONCLUSION: Research suggests that motor impairment is highly prevalent in some psychiatric conditions, particularly ASD and ADHD. However, future work is necessary to draw sound conclusions.
文摘Primary impairments of developmental coordination disorder (DCD) include impairments in motor skill, motor learning, and imitation. Such difficulties present challenges for individuals with DCD and may persist into adulthood, negatively impacting daily life in school, work, and social domains. A better understanding of the neural correlates of motor and imitation impairments in DCD holds the potential for informing development of treatment approaches to address these impairments. Although the disorder is assumed to be of neurological origin, little is known of the brain-based etiology of DCD. In recent years the discovery of a fronto-parietal circuit—known as the mirror neuron system—has enabled researchers to better understand imitation, general motor functions, and aspects of social cognition. Given its involvement in imitation and other motor functions, we propose that dysfunction in the mirror neuron system may underlie the characteristic impairments of DCD. We review literature pertaining to the mirror neuron system and develop a theory of disordered mirror neuron functioning in DCD. Finally, we review the limited neuroimaging literature available on neural correlates of DCD and show that the findings from those investigations are congruent with a mirror neuron system theory of DCD. Future research in this population should be designed to investigate specifically mirror neuron regions in individuals with DCD during skilled motor tasks and imitation in particular.
文摘Introduction: Antibodies to voltage-gated potassium channels have been implicated in causing a host of peripheral and central nervous system disorders. However, the presence of these antibodies has not been previously associated with motor neuropathy. We describe the first case of acquired motor neuron disease associated with voltage-gated potas-sium channel antibodies. Case Report: The patient is an 81-year-old female who developed signs and symptoms of an idiopathic motor neuron disease. The patient was found to have increased antibodies to voltage-gated potassium chan-nels in the absence of a known metastatic or autoimmune process. Magnetic resonance imaging of the cervical spine demonstrated increased signal in the anterior horn regions of the cervical and upper thoracic spinal cord on T2-weighted imaging. The patient’s disease progression was refractory to both intravenous immunoglobulin and ster-oid therapy. Conclusion: Voltage-gated potassium channels may be causal or simply associated with motor neuron disease;this relationship needs to be elucidated. Testing for these antibodies may be warranted in cases of idiopathic rapidly progressing motor neuron disease.
