Festination (Noun)
Meaning
Involuntary shortening of stride and quickening of gait that occurs in some diseases (e.g., Parkinson's disease).
Classification
Nouns denoting natural processes.
Examples
- One of the notable motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease is festination, where a patient experiences involuntary quickening of their gait due to feelings of anxiety and decreased dopamine production.
- Festination can be observed in patients with multiple system atrophy, a neurodegenerative disorder that affects both involuntary movements and autonomic function.
- Studies of huntington's disease have demonstrated a correlation between cognitive decline and the onset of festination, as well as other motor symptoms.
- During the advanced stages of PSP, or progressive supranuclear palsy, festination and speech abnormalities significantly interfere with normal daily activities.
- Festination often becomes more pronounced in individuals with multiple sclerosis as their condition progresses, contributing to the impairment of gait and quality of life.