Locked-In Syndrome

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What is locked-in syndrome?

Locked-in syndrome is a rare disorder of the nervous system. People with locked-in syndrome are:

  • Paralyzed except for the muscles that control eye movement
  • Conscious (aware) and can think and reason, but cannot move or speak; although they may be able to communicate with blinking eye movements

Locked-in syndrome may result from:

  • Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
  • Diseases of the circulatory system
  • Diseases that destroy the myelin sheath (a protective covering that surrounds nerve cells)
  • A medication overdose

Where can I find more information about locked-in syndrome?

The following resource may have more information:

Genetic and Rare Diseases (GARD) Information Center

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