Micrographia is a medical condition where handwriting becomes progressively smaller and harder to read due to damage to the basal ganglia in the brain. It is a common symptom in Parkinson’s disease, but rehabilitation training and medical treatment can help reduce writing difficulties. Parkinson’s disease affects motor movement and can result in a loss of dexterity, making writing difficult. While Parkinson’s disease cannot be cured, medication and physical therapy can help reduce symptoms. Practicing diligently and using broad lined paper can also improve handwriting.
Micrographia is a term that refers to handwriting that becomes progressively smaller and more difficult to read. It is considered a medical condition that occurs due to damage to the basal ganglia in the brain, the area that controls fine motor movements. Micrographia is a very common symptom in individuals with Parkinson’s disease. With rehabilitation training and ongoing medical treatment for Parkinson’s disease, people may be able to reduce writing difficulties and other problems that result from poor motor functioning.
Parkinson’s disease primarily affects motor movement and can result in a loss of dexterity with both gross and fine muscle skills. Micrographia is often a prominent symptom in Parkinson’s disease patients, as their brain loses the ability to coordinate and maintain the movements needed to write. Neural connections in the basal ganglia and other parts of the brain are disrupted, and symptoms tend to get progressively worse over time with Parkinson’s disease.
In most cases of micrography, a person will start writing in a normal style and size and keeping a horizontal line. As she continues to write, however, the words and letters tend to get smaller, cramped, and harder to read. An individual may not be able to keep their handwriting in a straight line. Sentences may diverge diagonally up or down a page, and words may begin to curl around each other as the writing becomes smaller and smaller, to the point where it cannot be deciphered even by person who writes them.
Micrographia and other movement difficulties related to Parkinson’s disease can be very frustrating and eventually become debilitating. Unfortunately, Parkinson’s disease cannot be cured, although people can often reduce some of their symptoms by taking prescribed medications and engaging in physical therapy. Most drugs work by increasing levels of dopamine in the brain, neurotransmitters essential for stabilizing neural functioning and motor movement. Regular physical therapy sessions allow people to build muscle strength and train their bodies to better cope with difficulties handling portable tools, such as pens and pencils.
Many people are able to improve their handwriting by practicing diligently. They can use broad lined paper and focus on staying within the printed lines. With the help of drugs to control tremors, individuals who have enough willpower and neural functioning to focus on their activities can overcome the symptoms of micrographia and write legibly. Support from friends, family, doctors and physical therapists can help give people with Parkinson’s disease the confidence they need to keep trying.
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