Progress and Prospects in Parkinson's Research/Symptoms/Aboulia

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Aboulia

Lack of will or initiative

There is an alternative spelling ’Abulia’.

This symptom can come about through trauma or as a result of Deep Brain Stimulation. It can also arise from non-Parkinsonian causes such as degeneration of or surgery upon the frontal lobes.

Common features of aboulia are:-

•	Difficulty in initiating and sustaining purposeful movements

•	Lack of spontaneous movement

•	Reduced spontaneous movement

•	Increased response-time to queries

•	Passivity

•	Reduced emotional responsiveness and spontaneity

•	Reduced social interactions

•	Reduced interest in usual pastimes

This has been described by:-

Doder et al (1999) Parkinson's syndrome after closed head injury: a single case report 

Redgrave et al (2010)Goal-directed and habitual control in the basal ganglia: implications for Parkinson’s disease 

Drubach et al (2011)Free Will, Freedom of Choice and Frontotemporal Lobar Degeneration 

Further Research