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Neurodegeneration with Brain Iron Accumulation Information Page
Neurodegeneration with Brain Iron Accumulation Information Page
Neurodegeneration with Brain Iron Accumulation Information Page
What research is being done?
Researchers hoping to learn more about NBIA disorders are collecting information about how symptoms and findings in NBIA change over time and hope to identify measures of NBIA that can be used in future clinical trials. Researchers overseas are investigating the drug deferiprone to see if it can remove and/or prevent the accumulation of iron in the central nervous system. For more information on clinical studies on NBIA disorders, see www.clinicaltrials.gov and search using the term NBIA. Researchers funded by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) are developing a mouse model of an NBIA disorder to gain insight into the causes of the disease and accelerate ongoing efforts to identify therapeutics to treat it.
Information from the National Library of Medicine’s MedlinePlus
Neurodegeneration with Brain Iron Accumulation (NBIA)
Researchers hoping to learn more about NBIA disorders are collecting information about how symptoms and findings in NBIA change over time and hope to identify measures of NBIA that can be used in future clinical trials. Researchers overseas are investigating the drug deferiprone to see if it can remove and/or prevent the accumulation of iron in the central nervous system. For more information on clinical studies on NBIA disorders, see www.clinicaltrials.gov and search using the term NBIA. Researchers funded by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) are developing a mouse model of an NBIA disorder to gain insight into the causes of the disease and accelerate ongoing efforts to identify therapeutics to treat it.
Information from the National Library of Medicine’s MedlinePlus
Neurodegeneration with Brain Iron Accumulation (NBIA)
Researchers hoping to learn more about NBIA disorders are collecting information about how symptoms and findings in NBIA change over time and hope to identify measures of NBIA that can be used in future clinical trials. Researchers overseas are investigating the drug deferiprone to see if it can remove and/or prevent the accumulation of iron in the central nervous system. For more information on clinical studies on NBIA disorders, see www.clinicaltrials.gov and search using the term NBIA. Researchers funded by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) are developing a mouse model of an NBIA disorder to gain insight into the causes of the disease and accelerate ongoing efforts to identify therapeutics to treat it.
Information from the National Library of Medicine’s MedlinePlus
Neurodegeneration with Brain Iron Accumulation (NBIA)
Neurodegeneration with brain iron accumulation (NBIA) is a rare, inherited, neurological movement disorder characterized by an abnormal accumulation of iron in the brain and progressive degeneration of the nervous system. Several genes have been found that cause NBIA.
Symptoms, which vary greatly among patients and usually develop during childhood, may include:
- dystonia (slow writhing, distorting muscle contractions of the limbs, face, or trunk)
- dysarthria (slurred or slow speech)
- choreoathetosis (involuntary, purposeless jerky muscle movements)
- muscle rigidity (uncontrolled tightness of the muscles)
- spasticity (sudden, involuntary muscle spasms)
- ataxia (inability to coordinate movements)
- confusion
- seizures
- stupor
- dementia
- visual changes
Cognitive decline occurs in some forms of NBIA; the majority of individuals with NBIA do not have cognitive impairment.
Neurodegeneration with brain iron accumulation (NBIA) is a rare, inherited, neurological movement disorder characterized by an abnormal accumulation of iron in the brain and progressive degeneration of the nervous system. Several genes have been found that cause NBIA.
Symptoms, which vary greatly among patients and usually develop during childhood, may include:
- dystonia (slow writhing, distorting muscle contractions of the limbs, face, or trunk)
- dysarthria (slurred or slow speech)
- choreoathetosis (involuntary, purposeless jerky muscle movements)
- muscle rigidity (uncontrolled tightness of the muscles)
- spasticity (sudden, involuntary muscle spasms)
- ataxia (inability to coordinate movements)
- confusion
- seizures
- stupor
- dementia
- visual changes
Cognitive decline occurs in some forms of NBIA; the majority of individuals with NBIA do not have cognitive impairment.
There is no cure for NBIA, nor is there a standard course of treatment. Treatment is symptomatic and supportive, and may include physical or occupational therapy, exercise physiology, and/or speech pathology. Many medications are available to treat the primary symptoms of dystonia and spasticity, including oral medications, intrathecal baclofen pump (in which a small pump is implanted under the skin and is programmed to deliver a specific amount of medication on a regular basis), deep brain stimulation, and botulinum toxin injection.
There is no cure for NBIA, nor is there a standard course of treatment. Treatment is symptomatic and supportive, and may include physical or occupational therapy, exercise physiology, and/or speech pathology. Many medications are available to treat the primary symptoms of dystonia and spasticity, including oral medications, intrathecal baclofen pump (in which a small pump is implanted under the skin and is programmed to deliver a specific amount of medication on a regular basis), deep brain stimulation, and botulinum toxin injection.
Neurodegeneration with brain iron accumulation (NBIA) is a rare, inherited, neurological movement disorder characterized by an abnormal accumulation of iron in the brain and progressive degeneration of the nervous system. Several genes have been found that cause NBIA.
Symptoms, which vary greatly among patients and usually develop during childhood, may include:
- dystonia (slow writhing, distorting muscle contractions of the limbs, face, or trunk)
- dysarthria (slurred or slow speech)
- choreoathetosis (involuntary, purposeless jerky muscle movements)
- muscle rigidity (uncontrolled tightness of the muscles)
- spasticity (sudden, involuntary muscle spasms)
- ataxia (inability to coordinate movements)
- confusion
- seizures
- stupor
- dementia
- visual changes
Cognitive decline occurs in some forms of NBIA; the majority of individuals with NBIA do not have cognitive impairment.
There is no cure for NBIA, nor is there a standard course of treatment. Treatment is symptomatic and supportive, and may include physical or occupational therapy, exercise physiology, and/or speech pathology. Many medications are available to treat the primary symptoms of dystonia and spasticity, including oral medications, intrathecal baclofen pump (in which a small pump is implanted under the skin and is programmed to deliver a specific amount of medication on a regular basis), deep brain stimulation, and botulinum toxin injection.
NBIA is a progressive condition. Most individuals experience periods of rapid decline lasting weeks to months, with relatively stable periods in between. The rate of progression correlates with the age at onset, meaning that children with early symptoms tend to fare more poorly. For those with early onset, dystonia and spasticity can eventually limit the ability to walk, usually leading to use of a wheelchair by the midteens. Life expectancy is variable, although premature death does occur in NBIA. Premature death usually occurs due to secondary complications such as impaired swallowing or confinement to a bed or wheelchair, which can lead to poor nutrition or aspiration pneumonia. With improved medical care, however, a greater number of affected individuals reach adulthood. For those with atypical, late-onset NBIA, many are diagnosed as adults and live well into adulthood.
NBIA is a progressive condition. Most individuals experience periods of rapid decline lasting weeks to months, with relatively stable periods in between. The rate of progression correlates with the age at onset, meaning that children with early symptoms tend to fare more poorly. For those with early onset, dystonia and spasticity can eventually limit the ability to walk, usually leading to use of a wheelchair by the midteens. Life expectancy is variable, although premature death does occur in NBIA. Premature death usually occurs due to secondary complications such as impaired swallowing or confinement to a bed or wheelchair, which can lead to poor nutrition or aspiration pneumonia. With improved medical care, however, a greater number of affected individuals reach adulthood. For those with atypical, late-onset NBIA, many are diagnosed as adults and live well into adulthood.
NBIA is a progressive condition. Most individuals experience periods of rapid decline lasting weeks to months, with relatively stable periods in between. The rate of progression correlates with the age at onset, meaning that children with early symptoms tend to fare more poorly. For those with early onset, dystonia and spasticity can eventually limit the ability to walk, usually leading to use of a wheelchair by the midteens. Life expectancy is variable, although premature death does occur in NBIA. Premature death usually occurs due to secondary complications such as impaired swallowing or confinement to a bed or wheelchair, which can lead to poor nutrition or aspiration pneumonia. With improved medical care, however, a greater number of affected individuals reach adulthood. For those with atypical, late-onset NBIA, many are diagnosed as adults and live well into adulthood.
Related Information
Neurodegeneration with brain iron accumulation (NBIA) is a rare, inherited, neurological movement disorder characterized by an abnormal accumulation of iron in the brain and progressive degeneration of the nervous system. Several genes have been found that cause NBIA.
Symptoms, which vary greatly among patients and usually develop during childhood, may include:
- dystonia (slow writhing, distorting muscle contractions of the limbs, face, or trunk)
- dysarthria (slurred or slow speech)
- choreoathetosis (involuntary, purposeless jerky muscle movements)
- muscle rigidity (uncontrolled tightness of the muscles)
- spasticity (sudden, involuntary muscle spasms)
- ataxia (inability to coordinate movements)
- confusion
- seizures
- stupor
- dementia
- visual changes
Cognitive decline occurs in some forms of NBIA; the majority of individuals with NBIA do not have cognitive impairment.
There is no cure for NBIA, nor is there a standard course of treatment. Treatment is symptomatic and supportive, and may include physical or occupational therapy, exercise physiology, and/or speech pathology. Many medications are available to treat the primary symptoms of dystonia and spasticity, including oral medications, intrathecal baclofen pump (in which a small pump is implanted under the skin and is programmed to deliver a specific amount of medication on a regular basis), deep brain stimulation, and botulinum toxin injection.
NBIA is a progressive condition. Most individuals experience periods of rapid decline lasting weeks to months, with relatively stable periods in between. The rate of progression correlates with the age at onset, meaning that children with early symptoms tend to fare more poorly. For those with early onset, dystonia and spasticity can eventually limit the ability to walk, usually leading to use of a wheelchair by the midteens. Life expectancy is variable, although premature death does occur in NBIA. Premature death usually occurs due to secondary complications such as impaired swallowing or confinement to a bed or wheelchair, which can lead to poor nutrition or aspiration pneumonia. With improved medical care, however, a greater number of affected individuals reach adulthood. For those with atypical, late-onset NBIA, many are diagnosed as adults and live well into adulthood.
Researchers hoping to learn more about NBIA disorders are collecting information about how symptoms and findings in NBIA change over time and hope to identify measures of NBIA that can be used in future clinical trials. Researchers overseas are investigating the drug deferiprone to see if it can remove and/or prevent the accumulation of iron in the central nervous system. For more information on clinical studies on NBIA disorders, see www.clinicaltrials.gov and search using the term NBIA. Researchers funded by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) are developing a mouse model of an NBIA disorder to gain insight into the causes of the disease and accelerate ongoing efforts to identify therapeutics to treat it.
Information from the National Library of Medicine’s MedlinePlus
Neurodegeneration with Brain Iron Accumulation (NBIA)