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Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders

Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders - What it is

What is Parkinson's disease?

The symptoms of Parkinson's disease are caused by degeneration of a structure of the brain called the substantia nigra. This causes a lack of a neurotransmitter called dopamine.

parkinson’s disease and movement disorder condition - SingHealth

Parkinson's disease is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder after Alzheimer’s disease. A study in Singapore showed that Parkinson's disease occurs as commonly as in the West. Three out of every thousand individuals, aged 50 years and above, have this disease. 

What are movement disorders?

Movement disorders refer to a group of neurological conditions that result in disorders of normal body movements. This may refer to conditions that slow down body movements such as Parkinson's disease or conditions that are associated with abnormal or increased body movements. 

The disorders we often see in our movement disorders clinics include:

  • Ataxia: Red ability to coordinate voluntary movements that may result in problems with walking and balancing
  • Chorea: Jerky, irregular, relatively rapid, involuntary movements that can affect the face or limbs.
  • Dystonia: Slow, twisting, involuntary movements associated with forceful muscle contractions or spasms. This may affect the eyes (blepharospasm), muscles of the face, jaws, neck, upper limbs and/or lower limbs. At times these spasms occur on performing a specific task such as writing (writer’s cramps)
  • Hemifacial spasms: Involuntary twitching or spasms that affect one half of the face, including the eye muscles, resulting in uncontrollable eye closure
  • Myoclonus: Brief, involuntary, jerk-like twitching or contractions of muscles
  • Myokymia: Fine persistent quivering or rippling of muscles
  • Tremors: Rhythmic, involuntary, to-and-fro shaking movements that often affect the arms, hands or head.
  • Tics: Repetitive, purposeless muscle movements (motor tics) or vocalisations (vocal tics) that arise from an irresistible urge that is temporarily relieved following the execution of the movement or vocalisation

These abnormal movements may arise from a variety of diseases and careful evaluation is necessary to determine the underlying cause.

As Singapore’s population continues to age, the number of people with Parkinson's disease and movement disorders, such as essential tremor, dystonia, chorea and myoclonus will rise. As with many other medical conditions, these diseases currently do not have a cure. However, there are effective treatments available to control symptoms and improve daily function. Minimally invasive surgery is also available to treat patients with advanced disease.

The Parkinson Disease and Movement Disorders Programme emphasises the provision of comprehensive clinical services coupled with strong research initiatives. A multi-disciplinary team of neurologists, neurosurgeons, nurse clinicians, therapists and medical social workers, work together to provide the best care for our patients.

The information provided is not intended as medical advice. Terms of use. Information provided by SingHealth

Our Care Team

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Au Wing Lok Assoc Prof

Assoc Prof Au Wing Lok

Chief Executive Officer & Senior Consultant

​MBBS (Singapore), MRCP (United Kingdom), FAMS (Neurology), FRCP (Edinburgh)

Clinical Interests: Parkinson's Disease, Movement Disorders, General Neurology

Tan Eng King Prof

Prof Tan Eng King

Deputy Chief Executive Officer& Senior Consultant

​MBBS, MRCP (United Kingdom), FAMS (Neurology), FRCP (Edinburgh)

Clinical Interests: General Neurology, Parkinson's Disease, Movement Disorders

Koh Yeow Hoay Dr

Dr Koh Yeow Hoay

Head & Senior Consultant

​MBBS, MRCP (United Kingdom)

Clinical Interests: General Neurology, Clinical Neurophysiology

Tay Kay Yaw Clin Assoc Prof

Clin Assoc Prof Tay Kay Yaw

Head of Service & Senior Consultant

​MBBS, MRCP (United Kingdom)

Clinical Interests: Parkinson's Disease, Movement Disorders, General Neurology

Lim Ee Wei Dr

Dr Lim Ee Wei

Senior Consultant

​MBBS, MRCP (United Kingdom), FAMS (Neurology)

Clinical Interests: General Neurology, Parkinson's Disease, Movement Disorders

Neo Shermyn Dr

Dr Neo Shermyn

Senior Consultant

​MBBS, MMed (Internal Medicine), MRCP (London)

Clinical Interests: General Neurology, Movement Disorders, Parkinson's Disease

Ratnagopal Pavanni Assoc Prof

Assoc Prof Ratnagopal Pavanni

Senior Consultant

MBBS, MMed (Internal Medicine), FAMS (Neurology),

Clinical Interests: Movement Disorders, Neuro-Otology, Sleep Disorders, Parkinson's Disease, Neuroimmunology

Tan Louis Chew Seng Prof

Prof Tan Louis Chew Seng

Senior Consultant

MBBS, MRCP (UK), FAMS (Neurology), FRCP (Edin)

Clinical Interests: Parkinson's Disease, Movement Disorders, General Neurology

Xu Zheyu Dr

Dr Xu Zheyu

Senior Consultant

​BA, MB BChir (Cambridge), MA, FRACP (Australia)

Clinical Interests: Movement Disorders, Parkinson's Disease, Sleep Disorders, General Neurology

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