Pseudoparkinsonism: A review of a common nonparkinsonian hypokinetic movement disorder

Roger Kurlan, Marcie L. Rabin

Atlantic Neuroscience Institute, Overlook Medical Center, Summit, USA.

DOI: 10.4236/apd.2013.24020                

Abstract

This article reviews the syndrome pseudoparkinsonism, a movement disorder described in the literature that resembles parkinsonism but differs qualitatively. Patients with this disorder have apraxic slowness, paratonic rigidity, frontal gait disorder and elements of akinesia that, taken together, may be mistaken for true parkinsonism. Pseudoparkinsonism appears to be common and is most often due to Alzheimer’s disease or vascular dementia. It seems that patients with even mild cognitive deficits can present with pseudoparkinsonism and that the primary dementing disorder may be overlooked. The authors emphasize the importance of pseudoparkinsonism and implications for clinical diagnosis, treatment and research.

Keywords

Parkinsonism; Pseudoparkinsonism; Paratonia; Apraxia; Akinetic-Rigid Syndrome

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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