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What is chorea?
11 December 2025
It is a neurological disorder characterized by the sudden and involuntary emission of rapid, repetitive, irregular, and brief movements in various body areas, although they are often most frequent in the face and hands.
Involuntary movements may be due to conditions in the central nervous system or nerve injuries. In the specific case of chorea, clinical research points to hyperactivity of the basal ganglia, which are responsible for regulating movements produced by brain nerve impulses.
Chorea is classified as:
- Acquired: Caused by the prolonged intake of certain medications, metabolic disorders, stroke, pregnancy, infectious or autoimmune diseases, as well as thiamine deficiency, and poisoning with carbon monoxide and ethyl alcohol.
- Hereditary: Caused by Huntington’s disease.
Occasionally, it occurs in older adults without any specific reason, known as senile chorea, and affects the muscles inside and outside the mouth.
Typically, this movement disorder affects the face, hands, and feet. In the case of the face, the nose often wrinkles, while the eyes, mouth, and tongue may move continuously.
Signs and symptoms Chorea
Symptoms initially present as uncontrollable and inexplicable tics that progressively evolve, manifesting the following:
- Impaired cognitive functions.
- Mood changes.
- Difficulty walking.
- Swallowing problems (dysphagia).
- Episodes of spasms.
- Jerking of the neck, head, and limbs.
- Uncontrollable limb movements.
- Problems with speech or expression.
Diagnosis and treatment Chorea
The specialist doctor will analyze your symptoms and clinical history, then perform a physical examination and a series of tests to help rule out other diseases and confirm the diagnosis, including:
- Blood tests.
- Electroencephalogram (EEG).
- Genetic studies.
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI).
- Computed Tomography (CT scan).
- Positron Emission Tomography (PET scan).
- Neuropsychiatric tests.
The treatment to follow will depend on the type of chorea and its cause, but it usually includes medications to help control the movements and psychiatric conditions.
At the Neurological Center, a group of highly trained and certified doctors in various neurological specialties are prepared to treat you with the quality and warmth that characterizes us.
Related centers and departments Chorea
Fuentes:
- neurología.com
- cun.es
- topdoctors.es
- elsevier.es
- nih.gov
- msdmanuals.com
- mayoclinic.org
- medlineplus.gov
- medigraphic.com
- Redondo-Villatoro A, Azcona-Sutil L, Corrales-Gutiérrez I, et al. Corea gravídica secundaria a síndrome antifosfolipídico: reporte de un caso y revisión de la bibliografía. Ginecol Obstet Mex. 2022;90(06):525-529.
- Murillo-Godínez G. Las coreas. Med Int Mex. 2023;39(1):147-166.
How can we help you?
The dissemination of the content of this material is for informational purposes only and does not replace, under any circumstance or condition, a consultation with a specialist doctor, for which the ABC Medical Center is not responsible for the different use that may be given to it. If you require more information related to the subject, we suggest you contact the specialist doctor you trust directly.
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