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Hallervorden-Spatz Disease Synonym(s): Reviewed 07-01-2001 Get Web page suited for printing Email this to a friend or colleague Studies with patients Table of Contents (click to jump to sections) What is Hallervorden-Spatz Disease?Is there any treatment? What is the prognosis? What research is being done? Organizations What is Hallervorden-Spatz Disease? Hallervorden-Spatz disease, also called Neurodegeneration with Brain Iron Accumulation, is a rare, inherited, neurological movement disorder characterized by progressive degeneration of the nervous system. Symptoms, which vary greatly among patients and usually develop during childhood, may include slow writhing, distorting muscle contractions of the limbs, face, or trunk, choreoathetosis (involuntary, purposeless jerky muscle movements), muscle rigidity (uncontrolled tightness of the muscles), spasticity (sudden, involuntary muscle spasms), ataxia (inability to coordinate movements), confusion, disorientation, seizures, stupor, and dementia. Other less common symptoms may include painful muscle spasms, dysphasia (difficulty speaking), mental retardation, facial grimacing, dysarthria (poorly articulated speech), and visual impairment. Is there any treatment? What is the prognosis? What research is being done? NBIA Disorders Association
National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD)
Easter Seals
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