Pure akinesia with gait freezing: a clinicopathologic study

Abstract

Pallidonigroluysian degeneration produces freezing and festination in the absence of generalized slowing (bradykinesia). Freezing and festination are commonly regarded as features of akinesia. Akinesia literally means absence of movement, and akinesia is commonly viewed as an extreme of bradykinesia. The pure akinesia with gait freezing phenotype illustrates that bradykinesia and akinesia should be viewed as separate phenomena.