Basal Ganglia

The basal ganglia are a collection of nuclei deep to the white matter of cerebral cortex. Collectively, the basal ganglia are the areas of gray matter under the cerebral cortex. There are certain disorders that are associated with basal ganglia dysfunction.
They include:

• Parkinson's Disease
• Huntington's Disease
• Progressive Supranuclear palsy
• Corticobasal degeneration
• Multiple System atrophy
• Wilson disease
• Dystonia

Also, any of the following can cause damage to the basal ganglia as well:

• Strokes
• Metabolic abnormalities
• Liver disease
• Multiple Sclerosis
• Infections
• Tumors
• Drug overdoses or side effects
• Head trauma

When the basal ganglia are damaged, a person can lose control over functions such as their speech, and movement may be impaired. Difficulties with starting movement, sustaining movement and stopping movement are all possible when this area is injured.

There are symptoms that one can look out for to help determine possible damage to the basal ganglia.

Included are:

• Tremor ,
• Slowing of movements,
• Difficulty walking,
• Rigidity, involuntary movements,
• Muscle spasms,
• Increased muscle tone,
• Tics (uncontrollable, repeated movements, speech, or cries).

Dec. 13, 2005. nlm.nih.gov.

___________________
text provided by megan

Back to top