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  • Kirsten Platho-Elwischger
    Medical University of Vienna
  • Michaela Schmoeger
    Medical University of Vienna
  • Ulrike Willinger
    Medical University of Vienna
  • Carmen Abdel-Aziz
    Medical University of Vienna
  • Jennifer Algner
    Medical University of Vienna
  • Sandra Pretscherer
    Medical University of Vienna
  • Eduard Auff
    Medical University of Vienna
  • Gottfried Kranz
    Medical University of Vienna
  • Oliver H. Turnbull
  • Thomas Sycha
    Medical University of Vienna
Objective To investigate higher cognitive functions after mimicry changes after facial botulinum toxin (BTX) injections, we tested verbal and nonverbal reasoning in patients with blepharospasm or hemifacial spasm before and after their long-term botulinum toxin treatment. Design Explorative, nonrandomized, clinical trial. Setting Patients receiving ambulatory care and control participants from the general community. Participants Volunteer sample (N=84) of patients (n=21) with blepharospasm or hemifacial spasm who received facial BTX injections. Control participants included patients (n=30) with cervical dystonia who received cervical BTX injections and individuals without neurological disorders (n=33). Interventions The 2 groups receiving injections were tested before and 3 weeks after their treatment. The group without neurological disorders received no injections. Main Outcome Measures Verbal and nonverbal reasoning scores. Results The key unexpected finding was that patients who received facial BTX injections perform significantly worse in nonverbal reasoning tasks, when compared with those who did not receive injections (P=.022). There was no significant difference in the baseline reasoning scores and at follow-up for verbal reasoning between the 3 groups. There was no correlation between toxin dose and reasoning scores (verbal: P=.132; nonverbal: P=.294). Conclusions Because of potential confounders, the results do not yet allow any conclusion on causality. Further research is needed to confirm our findings.

Keywords

  • Cognition, botulinum toxin, facial muscles
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)402-408
JournalArchives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Volume103
Issue number3
Early online date5 Sept 2021
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Mar 2022

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