Bulbar
palsy is a syndrome that affects the brain’s lower motor neurons. It
occurs when brain’s lower cranial nerves are impaired because of trauma to the
cells or motor control center of the brainstem, or from other lesions to the
lower cranial nerves in the brainstem. There are several causes of bulbar
palsy, including genetic, vascular, degenerative, and inflammatory diseases;
malignancy; and bacterial toxins. The cranial nerves affected by bulbar palsy control the
muscles responsible for chewing, swallowing, speech and, in some cases,
breathing and facial movement. If any of these nerves are damaged, lower motor
neurons are affected and palsy results. Symptoms include dysphagia, difficulty in chewing, nasal
regurgitation, slurring of speech, difficulty in handling secretions and so on.
It is often confused with pseudobulbar palsy, which shares many of the same
symptoms as bulbar palsy but is caused by damage to upper motor neurons resulting from stroke and affects different areas of the
cerebral cortex.
ELISA Kits for Bulbar Palsy Research
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