HEREDITARY CHOREAS Meaning and
Definition
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Hereditary choreas, also known as hereditary chorea or hereditary choreatic disorders, is a group of genetic neurological diseases characterized by involuntary movements, predominantly affecting the limbs and face. These hereditary conditions are typically inherited in an autosomal dominant manner, meaning that individuals with one copy of the mutated gene are at risk of developing the disorder.
Choreas are abnormal, rapid, and jerky movements that can resemble dance-like motions. In hereditary choreas, these movements are persistent and can worsen over time, leading to significant functional impairment. Hereditary choreas are caused by abnormalities in certain genes that regulate the function and communication between the nerve cells in specific regions of the brain, such as the basal ganglia.
Symptoms of hereditary choreas can vary widely depending on the specific genetic mutation causing the disorder, with age of onset ranging from infancy to adulthood. Besides chorea, other common features include progressive cognitive decline, behavior changes, psychiatric symptoms, and difficulty with speech and swallowing. Some hereditary choreas are also associated with other neurological problems, such as seizures or problems with coordination and balance.
Currently, there is no cure for hereditary choreas, and treatments mainly focus on managing symptoms and improving quality of life. Medications may be used to help reduce the involuntary movements and control associated symptoms. Supportive therapies, such as physical and occupational therapy, speech therapy, genetic counseling, and psychological support, can also be beneficial for individuals with hereditary choreas and their families.
Common Misspellings for HEREDITARY CHOREAS
- gereditary choreas
- bereditary choreas
- nereditary choreas
- jereditary choreas
- uereditary choreas
- yereditary choreas
- hwreditary choreas
- hsreditary choreas
- hdreditary choreas
- hrreditary choreas
- h4reditary choreas
- h3reditary choreas
- heeeditary choreas
- hededitary choreas
- hefeditary choreas
- heteditary choreas
- he5editary choreas
- he4editary choreas
- herwditary choreas
- hersditary choreas
Etymology of HEREDITARY CHOREAS
The term "hereditary choreas" combines two words with specific etymologies.
1. Hereditary: The word "hereditary" is derived from the Latin word "hereditarius", which means "inheritable" or "passed down through generations". It comes from the Latin word "hereditas", meaning "inheritance" or "ownership". The concept of something being hereditary refers to traits, characteristics, or diseases that are passed down from parents to children through their genes.
2. Choreas: The term "choreas" refers to a group of movement disorders characterized by involuntary, irregular, rapid, or jerky muscle movements. It is derived from the Greek word "choreia", meaning "dance". This term was used to describe the dance-like movements often observed in individuals with these particular movement disorders.
