source: Reigh LeBlanc/Flickr
I had a small chuckle at this article on a single case of “purposeless groaning” in Parkinson’s disease (PD):
OFF-Period Purposeless Groaning in Parkinsonism
Neurol India
2022 May-Jun; 70(3):1232-1234.
Vikash Agarwal, et al
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.
My father engaged in “purposeless groaning” all the time. It is well-known in the progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) community.
The Indian commenters on a case of someone doing this in PD, said:
[P]urposeless groaning … can be very disruptive and add significantly to caregiver burden.
Yes to disruptive. I’m not sure about adding to “caregiver burden.” Eventually, we got used to it and I would sometimes groan right back.
This sentence in the abstract was interesting:
It is postulated to be a disinhibitory and perseverative behavior related to overactivation of the cingulo-periaqueductal circuit; further study is needed to delineate the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms.
This is certainly a perseverative vocalization.
Do you have family members with PSP or other neurological conditions who groan?
Robin