10 Causes of Dystonia
Cause #8: Hallervorden-Spatz Syndrome
Pantothenate kinase associated neurodegeneration or Hallervorden-Spatz syndrome is a degenerative condition that affects the brain, resulting in dystonia, dementia, parkinsonism, and death.
The symptoms usually begin in childhood progressing gradually and eventually resulting in death by early adulthood. Symptoms are most often noticed before 10 years of age. Death usually occurs prematurely due to secondary causes such as infections while the disease itself is not technically life limiting. It is an autosomal recessive disorder causing a mutant PANK2 gene in the chromosomal locus 20p13–p12.3.
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