Random Tics & Parkinson's

Random tics are one of the signature symptoms of Parkinson's disease and they most often occur when the afflicted body part is motionless. Other Parkinsonian motion disorders include bradykinesia, in which movement slows drastically, rigidity and impaired balance.

Tics

• Tics can manifest as uncontrollable motions, sounds or both. The presence of both in a patient is usually indicative of Tourette's syndrome. Most people experience isolated motion tics such as a twitching eyebrow that can be brought on by stress or anxiety. Perpetual tics are typically a sign of a serious underlying physical problem.

Parkinsonian Tremors

• The Parkinson's Disease Foundation reports that approximately 70 percent of Parkinson's disease patients experience involuntary tremors early in the disease's onset. These tremors usually occur in patients' hands and feet, but Parkinson's can also cause facial or jaw tics. Parkinsonian tics are resting tremors afflicting relaxed muscles and they usually abate when the afflicted person begins activity with their trembling body part.

Dopamine

• Parkinson's patients have a deficiency of the neurotransmitter dopamine, which results in unreliable messages being sent from the brain to the muscles. L-dopa, a chemical the brain can convert into dopamine, is used to slow Parkinson's progress and treat tremors.