This past September, with support from the Brown Family Foundation (BFF), the DMRF US hosted a scientific workshop on Myoclonus Dystonia (M-D). Chaired by Drs. Marie Vidailhet and Marina de Koning-Tijssen, participants included leading experts in this type of dystonia. Workshops are proven catalysts for new ideas and collaborations, and often inform areas of focus for calls for research proposals. By gathering experts, we can critically assess progress in this field of research, identify gaps and make recommendations for future research priorities.
M-D, a genetic form of dystonia, is characterized by rapid jerking movements alone or in combination with the sustained muscular contractions and postures of dystonia. The study of M-D is important both because it is an intensely disabling disorder and because studying the genetics of this form is helping to clarify inheritance patterns for all dystonias. The DMRF offers several FREE fact sheets on M-D: