The Role of Neuronal Plasticity in Dystonia

Introduction Herman Oppenheim first coined the term “dystonia” in 1911 to describe a generalised form of the condition with childhood onset, which he called “dystonia musculorum deformans”. In more recent years, dystonia is now recognised as a spectrum of neurological movement disorders characterised by patterned and sustained muscle contractions, resulting in abnormal postures and involuntary twisting movements. In epidemiological studies, it is estimated that the prevalence of early-onset primary torsion dystonia is as high as 50 per million. In the UK alone, it is estimated over 70,000 people are affected by the condition. However, despite the prevalence of this debilitating disorder, the mechanisms underlying dystonia are poorly understood.