MSA. The other common form is“ stress incontinence,” which is set off by a sudden increase in pressure in the abdomen, as during a cough, laugh, or a physical effort. This is typically a result of lax ligaments supporting pelvic organs such as the bladder or uterus.
Ventilation: The physical act of breathing. To be distinguished from“ respiration,” which technically is the complicated biochemical process by which oxygen and sugar are combined to produce energy for the body’ s use. Ventilation can be impaired slightly in the parkinsonian disorders if the general voluntary muscle stiffness is severe enough to limit movement of the chest wall. In MSA, ventilation control can be disordered, producing various gasping sounds or long pauses in breathing called“ apnea.”
Vertebrae: The bones of the spine. Each forms a ring through which the spinal cord passes. Between one vertebra and the next is a“ disk” made mostly of flexible materials. Nerves called“ roots” branch off from the spinal cord to emerge between the vertebrae to supply the sensory and voluntary motor functions of the body. These roots, often singly but sometimes in groups, can be compressed by disorders of the vertebrae, such as arthritis, to produce pain and sensory changes.
Vertical Gaze Palsy:“ Vertical” means up and / or down.“ Gaze” means the voluntary movement of the eyes.“ Palsy” means weakness, or in this case, reduction of the range of eye movement. Vertical gaze palsy is a useful diagnostic sign of PSP but may not appear until years into the disease course, if at all. It also occurs in milder form in many people with CBD and MSA.
Vertigo: The illusion of movement of one’ s body or environment. This is typically caused by disorders of the inner ear but can also be a symptom of brain disorders like stroke, tumors, and multiple sclerosis. Vertigo is most commonly a spinning sensation, but the perceived movement can also be a rocking or swaying. The sensation of impaired balance caused by PSP, CBD, and MSA is often described by the sufferer as“ dizziness” or“ vertigo.”
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Vestibular System: The part of the inner ear used for perception of the position and movement of the body in space. Its disorders are called“ vestibulopathies” and result in dizziness or vertigo.
Wellness: The state of being free of disease, or the measures one takes to achieve such a state. It differs from the tradition term“ health” in emphasizing preventive measures such as diet, exercise, and various psychological techniques and encourages traditional and herbal approaches before prescription drugs.
Whipple Disease: A very rare, chronic bacterial infection which, when occurring in the brain, can mimic the vertical gaze palsy, balance loss, dementia, and dystonia of PSP. However, Whipple disease of the brain has many neurological features that do not occur in PSP. The infection usually starts in the intestine, where it causes diarrhea and other symptoms. It is curable with antibiotics if it has not progressed too far.
Whole-Exome Analysis: A laboratory test that reports the sequence of the genetic code of an individual. The term is also used for a research project that compares large groups of people such as those with and those without a certain disease on the results of such an analysis. The“ exome” is( approximately) those sections of the chromosomes that are actually translated into proteins. Exons make up only about 1 % of the chromosomes( the genome) but probably are the locations of 85 % of defects that are major causes of disease. Whole-exome analysis is available commercially, but its interpretation can be difficult in individual cases because it may be hard to distinguish disease-causing changes from inconsequential, benign variants.
Wilson’ s Disease: A rare disorder of the brain and liver that includes cognitive and movement abnormalities and sometimes other features of PSP. The cause is a gene defect impairing the body’ s handling of copper. It usually starts during late childhood, but rare cases have started into the 40s. Treatment is very effective if started early. Left untreated, Wilson’ s disease results in severe disability and death. Most movement disorders specialists order the test for Wilson’ s disease in anyone with any sort of movement disorder under age 50.