The locked-in syndrome (LiS) is characterized by quadriplegia with preserved vertical eye and eyelid movements and retained cognitive abilities. Subcategorization, aetiologies and the anatomical foundation of LiS are discussed. The damage of different structures in the pons, mesencephalon and thalamus are attributed to symptoms of classical, complete and incomplete LiS and the locked-in plus syndrome, which is characterized by additional impairments of consciousness, making the clinical distinction to other chronic disorders of consciousness at times difficult. Other differential diagnoses are cognitive motor dissociation (CMD) and akinetic mutism. Treatment options are reviewed and an early, interdisciplinary and aggressive approach, including the provision of psychological support and coping strategies is favoured. The establishment of communication is a main goal of rehabilitation. Finally, the quality of life of LiS patients and ethical implications are considered. While patients with LiS report a high quality of life and well-being, medical professionals and caregivers have largely pessimistic perceptions. The negative view on life with LiS must be overthought and the autonomy and dignity of LiS patients prioritized. Knowledge has to be disseminated, diagnostics accelerated and technical support system development promoted. More well-designed research but also more awareness of the needs of LiS patients and their perception as individual persons is needed to enable a life with LiS that is worth living.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
---|---|
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10064471 | PMC |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/17562864231160873 | DOI Listing |
J Neural Eng
January 2025
Department of Psychology, Julius-Maximilians-Universitat Wurzburg, Marcusstrasse 9-11, 97070 Würzburg, Germany, Würzburg, 97070, GERMANY.
Objective: Brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) can support non-muscular communication and device control for severely paralyzed people. However, efforts that directly involve potential or actual end-users and address their individual needs are scarce, demonstrating a translational gap. An online BCI forum supported by the BCI Society could initiate and sustainably strengthen interactions between BCI researchers and end-users to bridge this gap.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMedicine (Baltimore)
January 2025
Department of Neurology (Nerve-Muscle Unit), Reference Center for Neuromuscular Diseases "AOC," ALS Reference Center, University Hospitals of Bordeaux (Pellegrin Hospital), University of Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France.
Rationale: Locked-in syndrome (and its variant, completely locked-in state) generally has a high mortality rate in the acute setting; however, when induced by conditions such as acute inflammatory polyradiculoneuropathy, it may well be curable such that an attempt at cure should be systematically sought by clinicians.
Patient Concerns: A 52-year-old man presented with acute tetraparesia and areflexia, initially diagnosed as Guillain-Barré syndrome. Despite appropriate treatment, his condition deteriorated, evolving into a completely locked-in state.
Front Bioeng Biotechnol
January 2025
Biomedical Engineering Department, College of Engineering, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia.
Introduction: Color vision deficiency (CVD), a common visual impairment, affects individuals' ability to differentiate between various colors due to malfunctioning or absent color photoreceptors in the retina. Currently available diagnostic tests require a behavioral response, rendering them unsuitable for individuals with limited physical and communication abilities, such as those with locked-in syndrome. This study introduces a novel, non-invasive method that employs brain signals, specifically Steady-State Visually Evoked Potentials (SSVEPs), along with Ishihara plates to diagnose CVD.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFZh Nevrol Psikhiatr Im S S Korsakova
January 2025
Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University (Pirogov University), Moscow, Russia.
Locked-in syndrome is a rare neurological disorder. It is characterized by tetraparesis, paralysis of facial and masticatory muscles, anarthria and pseudobulbar syndrome with possible preservation of vertical movements of the eyeballs and blinking, as well as preservation of consciousness. A serious problem with the «locked-in person» syndrome is the inability of the patient to socialize, which causes him to experience no less suffering than from physical limitations.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Neural Eng
January 2025
Department of Neurology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, 320 East Superior St, Chicago, IL 60611, USA, Chicago, Illinois, 60611, UNITED STATES.
Brain-machine interfaces (BMIs) have advanced greatly in decoding speech signals originating from the speech motor cortices. Primarily, these BMIs target individuals with intact speech motor cortices but who are paralyzed by disrupted connections between frontal cortices and their articulators due to brainstem stroke or motor neuron diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. A few studies have shown some information outside the speech motor cortices, such as in parietal and temporal lobes, that also may be useful for BMIs.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEnter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!