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Palsy agitans is an outdated term for Parkinson’s disease, which causes shaky paralysis and cognitive decline. It is caused by damage to the midbrain and can be managed with drugs, physical therapy, and adaptations. A thorough evaluation by a neurologist is necessary to determine the cause of hand tremors.
Palsy agitans is an obsolete medical term once used to refer to the condition now known as Parkinson’s disease. It can be found in old medical texts and sometimes shows up when people are conducting historical research of a medical nature. The name change reflects research conducted by James Parkinson in the 1800s. He provided a detailed description and, as is common in medicine, the disease was named after him to honor his contributions to the understanding of the disease.
This term literally means “shaky paralysis,” a reference to the hallmark symptom of shaking paralysis. This condition, classified as a movement disorder, usually begins with hand tremors, progressing to a hunched and shuffling gait. Over time, the patient may begin to experience cognitive decline, along with tremors, and may find it increasingly difficult to complete basic tasks. Patients may need helper assistance with activities of daily living and may be at risk of slips and falls, potentially a hazard for people with brittle bones that can fracture when stressed.
Paralysis agitans involves damage to the midbrain, the area of the brain responsible for regulating movement. In healthy individuals, the brain controls movement to limit agitation by activating neurons to help muscles work in opposition to each other to stabilize movement. Especially with the hands, precision movements require very precise control. In people with this condition, the brain malfunctions and the body begins to shake due to lack of muscle control.
It is not possible to cure agitating paralysis, but the condition can be managed. Drugs are available to replace the missing neurotransmitters and increase muscle control. Physical therapy helps some patients. There are also adaptations available such as using devices designed to help people with shaky hands when it comes to grasping and manipulating objects. All of these treatment options can be modified over time as the patient’s condition evolves.
There are numerous potential reasons for hand tremors, and people who are starting to notice poor muscle control shouldn’t assume it’s the result of shaking paralysis. A thorough evaluation by a neurologist, including imaging studies of the brain, is needed to determine why the patient is having problems. The tremors may be related to a treatable condition or they could be caused by a problem that needs to be managed differently than this common disease of aging. Especially if the tremors appear when someone is young, they could be caused by something else entirely.
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