Non-Motor Features of Cervical Dystonia (CD)

Non-Motor Features of Cervical Dystonia

This study will examine the prevalence of four previously identified non-motor markers in a population of cervical dystonia patients, unaffected family members, and healthy volunteers in an attempt to identify a distinct combination of non-motor symptoms that may be indicative of disease development.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Nervous System Diseases; Neurologic Manifestations; Movement Disorders; Neuromuscular Manifestations; Cervical Dystonia; Focal Dystonia; Signs and Symptoms; Spasmodic Torticollis
• Intervention / Treatment: Diagnostic test: Assessment of Non-Motor Features; Diagnostic test: Neurological Examination

Detailed Description

The primary aim of this study is to identify the prevalence of four previously identified non-motor markers - (1) spatial discrimination threshold, (2) temporal discrimination threshold, (3) vibration-induced illusion of movement, and (4) kinesthesia - in a population of cervical dystonia patients, unaffected family members, and healthy volunteers (control group). Consenting participants will receive a neurological examination performed by a movement disorders neurologist, followed by an assessment of the four non-motor symptoms.

The investigators hypothesize that a distinct combination of non-motor symptoms will be more prevalent in the CD group, and therefore this set of symptoms may be indicative of disease development. This combination will be identified through analysis of the concurrence of the non-motor features across the three groups of participants. This study will fill an important unmet need, as to the investigators' knowledge there are no published studies assessing the comorbid presentation of these four non-motor symptoms in a single cervical dystonia population. The exploration of a distinct combination of concurrent non-motor symptoms as a marker for the development of cervical dystonia will improve the ability of movement disorders neurologists to diagnose the condition.

The results of this study will facilitate the investigators' longstanding aim of improving rates of cervical dystonia diagnosis. Cervical dystonia is currently diagnosed based upon the exclusion of other movement disorders; therefore, characterization of non-motor features in cervical dystonia patients will help to refine the diagnostic criteria for this condition. This investigation will also improve understanding of the factors associated with CD. Future studies can examine the source of these associated factors in order to help understand the cause of CD, since the etiology is currently unknown.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Actual): 33

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Tennessee
    • Nashville, Tennessee, United States, 37232
      • Vanderbilt University Medical Center Clinical Research Center

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 14 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Participants in this study will include adults that have cervical dystonia, are healthy and related to someone with cervical dystonia, or are healthy and not related to someone with cervical dystonia (control group).

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Have a diagnosis of cervical dystonia, OR a first order relation of a Vanderbilt patient diagnosed with cervical dystonia, OR a healthy volunteer who is neurologically normal
• Capable of participating in all study procedures
• Willing and able to provide written or verbal informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Subjects for whom participation in the study may cause medical harm
• Subjects who are not considered competent to make their own medical decisions
• Subjects who display sensory deficits during a short screening examination prior to study enrollment

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Observational Models: Cohort
• Time Perspectives: Cross-Sectional

Number of groups / cohorts

3

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort	Intervention / Treatment
CD Patients; Subjects must have a prior diagnosis of cervical dystonia and be capable of participating in all study procedures. Subjects will undergo assessment of non-motor features.	Diagnostic test: Assessment of Non-Motor Features; All subjects will be assessed for four non-motor symptoms, including (1) spatial discrimination threshold, (2) temporal discrimination threshold, (3) vibration-induced illusion of movement, and (4) kinesthesia.
Family Members; Subjects must be a first order relation of a Vanderbilt patient diagnosed with cervical dystonia. The subject must pass a short neurological examination to ensure the subject does not have cervical dystonia or any sensory deficits. Subjects will undergo assessment of non-motor features.	Diagnostic test: Assessment of Non-Motor Features; All subjects will be assessed for four non-motor symptoms, including (1) spatial discrimination threshold, (2) temporal discrimination threshold, (3) vibration-induced illusion of movement, and (4) kinesthesia.; Diagnostic test: Neurological Examination; The family members and healthy volunteers will undergo elements of the neurological examination during which the movement disorders neurologist will look specifically for the presence of cervical dystonia and other sensory abnormalities. If the subject is found to have cervical dystonia or any other sensory abnormalities, the subject will be excluded from the study.
Healthy volunteers; Subjects must be healthy volunteers who are neurologically normal. The subject must pass a short neurological examination to ensure the subject does not have cervical dystonia or any sensory deficits. Subjects will undergo assessment of non-motor features.	Diagnostic test: Assessment of Non-Motor Features; All subjects will be assessed for four non-motor symptoms, including (1) spatial discrimination threshold, (2) temporal discrimination threshold, (3) vibration-induced illusion of movement, and (4) kinesthesia.; Diagnostic test: Neurological Examination; The family members and healthy volunteers will undergo elements of the neurological examination during which the movement disorders neurologist will look specifically for the presence of cervical dystonia and other sensory abnormalities. If the subject is found to have cervical dystonia or any other sensory abnormalities, the subject will be excluded from the study.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Prevalence of spatial discrimination threshold in cervical dystonia patients, unaffected family members, and healthy volunteers	For participants in all groups, the investigators will examine the prevalence of spatial discrimination threshold. Prevalence of spatial discrimination threshold will be determined with a task using Johnson-Van-Boven-Phillips (JVP) domes. The spatial discrimination threshold will be recorded as the mean of both hands at the 75% level of accuracy. The research coordinator will report prevalence of spatial discrimination threshold as a descriptive statistic.	Up to 6 months after consent is obtained
Prevalence of temporal discrimination threshold in cervical dystonia patients, unaffected family members, and healthy volunteers	For participants in all groups, the investigators will examine the prevalence of temporal discrimination threshold. Prevalence of temporal discrimination threshold will be determined with a visual-visual discrimination task.The research coordinator will report prevalence of temporal discrimination threshold as a descriptive statistic.	Up to 6 months after consent is obtained
Prevalence of vibration-induced illusion of movement in cervical dystonia patients, unaffected family members, and healthy volunteers	For participants in all groups, the investigators will examine the prevalence of vibration-induced illusion of movement. Prevalence of vibration-induced illusion of movement will be determined by recording the change in displacement of the tracking arm during a vibration-induced illusion of movement task. The research coordinator will report prevalence of vibration-induced illusion of movement as a descriptive statistic.	Up to 6 months after consent is obtained
Prevalence of impaired kinesthesia in cervical dystonia	For participants in all groups, the investigators will examine the prevalence of impaired kinesthesia. Kinesthesia will be determined by a neurologist during the neurological examination. The research coordinator will report prevalence of impaired kinesthesia as a descriptive statistic.	Up to 6 months after consent is obtained

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Probability of concurrence of multiple non-motor features	The concurrence of multiple non-motor symptoms will be assessed using a multinomial logistic regression model to determine if a distinct combination of non-motor symptoms is more prevalent in the cervical dystonia patient group than in the unaffected family members or healthy volunteer groups.	Up to 6 months after consent is obtained

Other Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Potential new demographic indicators of cervical dystonia	Analysis of demographic factors will be performed to identify additional environmental factors that are more prevalent in the CD patient population than in healthy controls and unaffected family members. Through exploration of potential new indicators, the investigators hope to progress the long-term goal of improving the rate of cervical dystonia diagnosis.	Up to 6 months after consent is obtained
Potential new medical indicators of cervical dystonia	Analysis of medical history and specific elements of the neurological examination will be performed to identify additional symptoms and environmental factors that are more prevalent in the CD patient population than in healthy controls and unaffected family members. Emphasis will be placed on sensory tricks, as previous studies and clinical experience have shown that patients often use sensory tricks such as touching the face, hand, or neck to temporarily relieve muscle contraction. Through exploration of potential new indicators, the investigators hope to progress the long-term goal of improving the rate of cervical dystonia diagnosis.	Up to 6 months after consent is obtained

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Vanderbilt University Medical Center
• Collaborators: Vanderbilt Institute for Clinical and Translational Research

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Crowner BE. Cervical dystonia: disease profile and clinical management. Phys Ther. 2007 Nov;87(11):1511-26. doi: 10.2522/ptj.20060272. Epub 2007 Sep 18.
• Stacy M. Epidemiology, clinical presentation, and diagnosis of cervical dystonia. Neurol Clin. 2008 May;26 Suppl 1:23-42. doi: 10.1016/s0733-8619(08)80003-5. No abstract available.
• Jinnah HA, Berardelli A, Comella C, Defazio G, Delong MR, Factor S, Galpern WR, Hallett M, Ludlow CL, Perlmutter JS, Rosen AR; Dystonia Coalition Investigators. The focal dystonias: current views and challenges for future research. Mov Disord. 2013 Jun 15;28(7):926-43. doi: 10.1002/mds.25567.
• Stamelou M, Edwards MJ, Hallett M, Bhatia KP. The non-motor syndrome of primary dystonia: clinical and pathophysiological implications. Brain. 2012 Jun;135(Pt 6):1668-81. doi: 10.1093/brain/awr224. Epub 2011 Sep 20.
• Bradley D, Whelan R, Kimmich O, O'Riordan S, Mulrooney N, Brady P, Walsh R, Reilly RB, Hutchinson S, Molloy F, Hutchinson M. Temporal discrimination thresholds in adult-onset primary torsion dystonia: an analysis by task type and by dystonia phenotype. J Neurol. 2012 Jan;259(1):77-82. doi: 10.1007/s00415-011-6125-7. Epub 2011 Jun 8.
• Chen H, Zhao EJ, Zhang W, Lu Y, Liu R, Huang X, Ciesielski-Jones AJ, Justice MA, Cousins DS, Peddada S. Meta-analyses on prevalence of selected Parkinson's nonmotor symptoms before and after diagnosis. Transl Neurodegener. 2015 Jan 8;4(1):1. doi: 10.1186/2047-9158-4-1. eCollection 2015.
• Frima N, Nasir J, Grunewald RA. Abnormal vibration-induced illusion of movement in idiopathic focal dystonia: an endophenotypic marker? Mov Disord. 2008 Feb 15;23(3):373-7. doi: 10.1002/mds.21838.
• Molloy FM, Carr TD, Zeuner KE, Dambrosia JM, Hallett M. Abnormalities of spatial discrimination in focal and generalized dystonia. Brain. 2003 Oct;126(Pt 10):2175-82. doi: 10.1093/brain/awg219. Epub 2003 Jun 23.
• Fiorio M, Gambarin M, Valente EM, Liberini P, Loi M, Cossu G, Moretto G, Bhatia KP, Defazio G, Aglioti SM, Fiaschi A, Tinazzi M. Defective temporal processing of sensory stimuli in DYT1 mutation carriers: a new endophenotype of dystonia? Brain. 2007 Jan;130(Pt 1):134-42. doi: 10.1093/brain/awl283. Epub 2006 Nov 14.
• Bradley D, Whelan R, Walsh R, O'Dwyer J, Reilly R, Hutchinson S, Molloy F, Hutchinson M. Comparing endophenotypes in adult-onset primary torsion dystonia. Mov Disord. 2010 Jan 15;25(1):84-90. doi: 10.1002/mds.22889.
• Westenberger A, Klein C. Genetics of dystonia. In: Dystonia and Dystonic Syndromes. ; 2015:27-48. doi:10.1007/978-3-7091-1516-9_3.
• Putzki N, Stude P, Konczak J, Graf K, Diener HC, Maschke M. Kinesthesia is impaired in focal dystonia. Mov Disord. 2006 Jun;21(6):754-60. doi: 10.1002/mds.20799.
• Walsh R, O'Dwyer JP, Sheikh IH, O'Riordan S, Lynch T, Hutchinson M. Sporadic adult onset dystonia: sensory abnormalities as an endophenotype in unaffected relatives. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 2007 Sep;78(9):980-3. doi: 10.1136/jnnp.2006.105585.
• Bradley D, Whelan R, Walsh R, Reilly RB, Hutchinson S, Molloy F, Hutchinson M. Temporal discrimination threshold: VBM evidence for an endophenotype in adult onset primary torsion dystonia. Brain. 2009 Sep;132(Pt 9):2327-35. doi: 10.1093/brain/awp156. Epub 2009 Jun 12.
• Klingelhoefer L, Martino D, Martinez-Martin P, et al. Nonmotor symptoms and focal cervical dystonia: Observations from 102 patients. Basal Ganglia. 2014;4(3-4):117-120. doi:10.1016/j.baga.2014.10.002.
• Lobbezoo F, Tanguay R, Thon MT, Lavigne GJ. Pain perception in idiopathic cervical dystonia (spasmodic torticollis). Pain. 1996 Oct;67(2-3):483-91. doi: 10.1016/0304-3959(96)03153-3.
• Defazio G, Jankovic J, Giel JL, Papapetropoulos S. Descriptive epidemiology of cervical dystonia. Tremor Other Hyperkinet Mov (N Y). 2013 Nov 4;3:tre-03-193-4374-2. doi: 10.7916/D80C4TGJ. eCollection 2013.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): March 26, 2018
• Primary Completion (Actual): December 2, 2019
• Study Completion (Actual): December 2, 2019

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: February 23, 2018
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 20, 2018
• First Posted (Actual): March 21, 2018

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): February 7, 2020
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 6, 2020
• Last Verified: February 1, 2020

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Central Nervous System Diseases; Dyskinesias; Nervous System Diseases; Dystonia; Dystonic Disorders; Torticollis; Movement Disorders; Neurologic Manifestations; Neuromuscular Manifestations
• Other Study ID Numbers: 171717

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: No

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No