title: The pathophysiological mechanisms underlying freezing of gait in Parkinson's Disease.
abstract: Freezing of gait is a paroxysmal phenomenon most commonly found in patients with advanced Parkinson's Disease. The pathophysiological mechanisms underlying this behaviour remain uncertain despite a well-characterised phenotype. Freezing behaviour extends beyond gait to affecting speech and upper limb function, suggesting that there is likely to be a universal mechanism underlying the phenomenon. This paper identifies the essential features required for a comprehensive model of freezing and evaluates a number of hypotheses that seek to explain the phenomenon. It appears likely that the pathophysiology of freezing involves context-dependant dysfunction across multiple levels of the neurological system, including cortical, subcortical and brainstem regions.
authors: Parkinson's Disease Research Clinic, Brain and Mind Research Institute, Level 4, Building F, 94 Mallett Street, University of Sydney, Camperdown, New South Wales 2050, Australia.
authors: J M
authors: JM
authors: Shine
authors: S L
authors: SL
authors: Naismith
authors: S J G
authors: SJ
authors: Lewis
mesh_terms: D001479:Basal Ganglia / Q000503:physiopathology; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D007839:Functional Laterality; D005684:Gait / Q000502:physiology*; D020233:Gait Disorders, Neurologic / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D011187:Posture / Q000502:physiology