Recent advances in non-Huntington's disease choreas.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Chorea is primarily due to an imbalance of basal ganglia output pathways, often due to dysfunction or degeneration of the caudate nucleus and putamen, and can be due to many causes. METHODS: We reviewed the recent literature to identify newly-recognized causes of chorea, including auto-immune, metabolic, and genetic. We also focused upon developments in mechanisms relating to underlying pathophysiology of certain genetic choreas and advances in therapeutics. RESULTS: Novel autoantibodies continue to be identified as causes of chorea. Both COVID-19 infection and vaccination are reported to result rarely in chorea, although in some cases causality is not clearly established. Advances in genetic testing continue to find more causes of chorea, and to expand the phenotype of known genetic disorders. Deep brain stimulation can be successful in certain circumstances. CONCLUSION: Our understanding of mechanisms underlying this movement disorder continues to advance, however much remains to be elucidated.