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DWAYNE M. REED, MD; LEONARD T. KURLAND, MD

Arch Neurol. 1963;9(4):363-367.

	Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text PDF and any section headings.

Introduction

The occurrence of muscle fasciculations in an otherwise healthy person is not regarded as the ominous prelude to a progressive lower motor neuron disease as it was 20 years ago. Several reports document the fact that many persons experience fasciculations over a period of years, and the occurrence is without pathological significance.^1-3

In regard to this change in clinical impression, it is surprising that no definitive investigation has been made to determine the extent to which healthy persons experience fasciculations. This report is an analysis of the occurrence of benign muscle fasciculations in a large group of healthy medical personnel.

There is confusion and difference of opinion in the literature concerning the terminology describing benign and pathological fasciculations. When seen with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and related conditions, fasciculations are considered a true sign of pathology of the motor nuclei of the brain stem or the anterior horn . . . [Full Text PDF of this Article]

Author Affiliations
BETHESDA, MD

Footnotes
Submitted for publication May 22, 1963; accepted May 27, 1963.

Epidemiologist (Dr. Reed) and Chief (Dr. Kurland), Epidemiology Branch, National Institute of Neurological Diseases and Blindness, National Institutes of Health.

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