Basal Ganglia Stroke: Understanding Shaking And Its Causes

can a basal ganglia stroke cause shaking

A basal ganglia stroke can cause shaking. The basal ganglia are a group of neurons located deep in the brain that are responsible for various functions, including movement, executive functions, behaviours, and emotions. A stroke disrupting blood flow to this area can lead to problems with muscle control, sense of touch, and even personality changes. Shaking or tremors are included in the list of possible symptoms of a basal ganglia stroke.

Characteristics Values
Symptoms Weakness on one side of the body or face, difficulty speaking and understanding language, sudden loss of balance or coordination, sudden onset of a headache, sudden change in mood, behaviour, or onset of depression.
Causes Brain injury, copper poisoning, infection, tumours, multiple sclerosis, Huntington's disease, Parkinson's disease, Wilson's disease, multiple atrophy, and dystonia.
Treatment Blood pressure medications, surgery to lower pressure in the head, a shunt operation to drain part of the brain, psychotherapy, physical therapy, gait training, occupational therapy, and speech therapy.
Prognosis The prognosis is unpredictable and depends on the specific area affected. However, the brain can heal itself after a neurological injury.

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Can a basal ganglia stroke cause shaking?

A basal ganglia stroke can indeed cause shaking. The basal ganglia are a group of nuclei found deep within the brain that act as messengers, sending signals throughout the nervous system. They are strongly connected with the cerebral cortex, thalamus, and brain stem and are essential for movement, language, mood, and other crucial functions.

A stroke occurs when the blood supply to the brain is cut off or when a blood vessel in the brain bursts and releases blood into the brain tissue. When this happens in the basal ganglia, it can lead to problems with muscle control, vision, swallowing, sense of touch, and even personality changes.

Shaking or tremors are a common symptom of a basal ganglia stroke. This is because the basal ganglia play a crucial role in controlling voluntary muscle movements. When this control is compromised due to a stroke, it can lead to difficulty coordinating body movements, resulting in shaking or other involuntary movements.

Other symptoms of a basal ganglia stroke include weakness on one side of the body, loss of balance and coordination, confusion, headache, and difficulty speaking. It is important to seek medical attention immediately if you or someone you know is experiencing any of these symptoms, as prompt treatment is essential to minimize the damage and long-term complications.

Basal ganglia strokes are typically hemorrhagic, meaning they are caused by a ruptured blood vessel, but they can also be ischemic, resulting from a blocked blood vessel. The treatment and recovery for a basal ganglia stroke depend on the type of stroke and how quickly the person receives medical attention. Recovery can be challenging and may require long-term rehabilitation, including physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy.

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What is the basal ganglia?

The basal ganglia are a group of brain structures that work together to control complex processes in the body. They are a cluster of nuclei found deep within the brain, acting as messengers and sending signals throughout the nervous system.

The basal ganglia are located near the centre of the brain and are composed of several structures, including ganglia and nuclei. They are not a single structure, but a collection of distinct masses of grey matter. The largest component of the basal ganglia is the corpus striatum, which contains the caudate and lenticular nuclei, the subthalamic nucleus, and the substantia nigra. These structures are intricately connected, promoting or inhibiting movement.

The basal ganglia are primarily involved in motor control, acting as a gate-keeping mechanism for the initiation of movement. They can approve or reject movement signals, allowing us to control certain muscles without activating nearby muscles. They are also involved in executive functions, such as planning, focusing, and multitasking, as well as emotional processing, learning, and habit formation.

The basal ganglia are associated with a variety of functions, including regulating voluntary movements, procedural learning, eye movements, cognition, and emotions. They play a key role in action selection, aiding in the choice of behaviours to execute, and facilitating smooth, voluntary movements.

The basal ganglia are of major importance for normal brain function and behaviour. Dysfunction of the basal ganglia can result in a range of neurological conditions, including movement disorders such as Parkinson's disease and Huntington's disease, as well as cognitive deficits and disorders of behaviour control.

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What are the signs of a basal ganglia stroke?

A basal ganglia stroke occurs when there is an obstruction that cuts off blood flow to the basal ganglia, a group of neurons or nuclei deep in the centre of the brain. This part of the brain is essential for movement, language, mood, and other crucial functions.

The signs of a basal ganglia stroke are similar to the symptoms of a stroke that occurs in other areas of the brain. However, a basal ganglia stroke may also lead to changes in emotions, movement, and initiative. Here are some of the signs to look out for:

  • Sudden weakness on one side of the body
  • Loss of balance and coordination
  • Confusion
  • Headache
  • Difficulty speaking or understanding words
  • Difficulty seeing out of one or both eyes
  • Droopy, uneven smile
  • Flattened emotions, apathy, and slow or delayed movements
  • Rigid or weak muscles that limit movement
  • Loss of symmetry in the smile
  • Difficulty swallowing
  • Tremors or irregular movements
  • Cognitive impairment (memory, attention, language)
  • Headache, nausea, vomiting
  • Personality changes (confusion, frustration, anger, disinterest, depression)
  • Inappropriate emotional responses (crying or laughing for no apparent reason)

If you or someone you know is experiencing any of these symptoms, seek immediate medical attention. The sooner a person receives treatment, the more likely doctors will be able to minimise the damage caused by the stroke.

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How does a stroke affect the basal ganglia?

A basal ganglia stroke occurs when there is a disruption of blood flow to the basal ganglia, a group of neurons or nuclei deep within the brain. This disruption can be caused by a blocked artery or a ruptured blood vessel, leading to blood spilling into the nearby brain tissue. The basal ganglia are essential for various functions, including movement, executive functions, behaviour, and emotions.

When the blood supply to the basal ganglia is compromised, it can result in tissue damage and affect multiple functions. Here are some ways a stroke can impact the basal ganglia:

Motor Impairments

The basal ganglia play a crucial role in voluntary muscle control. A stroke can disrupt this control, leading to difficulty in coordinating body movements. Motor impairments are common long-term effects of basal ganglia stroke, including conditions like dystonia and chorea, which cause irregular and fidgety movements. These motor impairments can affect a person's balance, walking ability, and increase the risk of falls.

Emotional Changes

The basal ganglia are also involved in regulating emotions and behaviour. A stroke in this area can lead to emotional blunting, where positive and negative stimuli are perceived less intensely. Survivors may experience changes in their emotions or personality, such as apathy, confusion, or depression. Additionally, basal ganglia stroke is associated with increased difficulty in recognising faces, names, and interpreting the emotions of others.

Speech and Language Difficulties

Basal ganglia strokes can impair speech functions, particularly voluntary speech. Survivors may experience slow verbal response times and may not speak unless spoken to. They may also have cognitive changes, such as poor attention, memory, or naming abilities. Speech therapy can help diagnose and treat specific language disorders and difficulty swallowing.

Changes in Sensation

Some survivors may experience numbness or reduced sensation in the body parts affected by the stroke. This reduced sensation can further impact motor impairments as the brain relies on sensory feedback to coordinate movements. The proximity of the basal ganglia to the thalamus, which relays sensory signals, may contribute to these sensory issues.

Cognitive Impairments

Basal ganglia strokes can affect various cognitive abilities, including awareness of the orientation of objects, memory, attention, and language. Survivors may have trouble with planning, focusing, remembering instructions, and multitasking.

The effects of a basal ganglia stroke can vary depending on the specific area affected, the extent of the damage, and the individual's characteristics. While the brain has an incredible ability to heal and restore functions through neuroplasticity, the recovery process can be complex and may require long-term rehabilitation.

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How to treat a basal ganglia stroke

A basal ganglia stroke is a rare type of stroke that can lead to unique long-term effects. These effects can include movement impairments, emotional blunting, and the loss of spontaneous speech. While a stroke in the basal ganglia may be accompanied by these negative effects, there is hope for recovery through dedicated rehabilitation.

Treatment Options

  • Clot-busting Drugs: If you have suffered an ischemic stroke and get to the hospital within 4.5 hours of the start of symptoms, you may receive a clot-busting drug called tissue plasminogen activator (tPA). This can help dissolve most clots.
  • Mechanical Clot Removal: Doctors may also perform a mechanical clot removal within 24 hours of the start of symptoms.
  • Surgery: If you have suffered a hemorrhagic stroke, the doctor may fit a tiny clip onto the opening artery or perform surgery if the rupture is significant.
  • Blood Pressure Medication: Lowering pressure in the head through surgery or blood pressure medication can help treat a basal ganglia stroke.
  • Shunt Operation: A shunt operation can be performed to drain part of the brain.
  • Psychotherapy: Mental health services can help address emotional challenges, such as anxiety and depression, that may arise after a basal ganglia stroke.
  • Rehabilitation: Most stroke patients participate in rehabilitation routines to regain lost functions and improve their quality of life.

Rehabilitation Methods

  • Physical Therapy: Physical therapists can help restore function by improving mobility, strength, coordination, and balance.
  • Gait Training: This type of therapy helps survivors restore their ability to walk by strengthening and retraining the legs, feet, and core.
  • Occupational Therapy: Occupational therapy can help individuals regain independence in activities of daily living, such as dressing, bathing, cooking, and using the bathroom.
  • Sensory Retraining: Sensory retraining exercises can help restore sensation in the body and teach the brain to correctly interpret sensory information.
  • Speech Therapy: Speech-language pathologists can diagnose and treat language disorders and difficulty swallowing after a stroke.

Recovery

The prognosis after a basal ganglia stroke is unpredictable and depends on the specific area affected. However, the brain has the remarkable ability to heal itself through a process called neuroplasticity, which enables it to reorganize and create new pathways. While some recovery occurs naturally through spontaneous recovery, progress generally slows around 3-6 months after a stroke. With dedicated rehabilitation, it is possible to improve function and recover from a basal ganglia stroke, even years after the event.

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Frequently asked questions

A basal ganglia stroke occurs when there is a blockage or a bleed in the blood supply to the basal ganglia, a group of neurons or nuclei deep in the brain. This can lead to brain damage and even death.

The symptoms of a basal ganglia stroke are similar to those of other strokes and include weakness on one side of the body, a loss of balance and coordination, confusion, headache, and difficulty speaking. However, a basal ganglia stroke may also cause emotional changes, slow movement, and loss of awareness of one side of the body.

A basal ganglia stroke can have long-term effects on movement, perception, and judgment. It can cause muscle control problems, vision issues, swallowing difficulties, a reduced sense of touch, and personality changes.

Treatment for a basal ganglia stroke depends on the type of stroke and how quickly the person receives medical attention. Treatments may include clot-busting drugs, surgery to repair a broken blood vessel, or procedures to reduce blood pressure. Rehabilitation is also crucial and may include physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, and psychotherapy.

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