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$Unique_ID{BRK03890}
$Pretitle{}
$Title{Jumping Frenchmen of Maine}
$Subject{Jumping Frenchmen of Maine Jumping Frenchmen Latah Myriachit Kok
Disease Tourette Syndrome }
$Volume{}
$Log{}
Copyright (C) 1987, 1989, 1990 National Organization for Rare Disorders,
Inc.
380:
Jumping Frenchmen of Maine
** IMPORTANT **
It is possible the main title of the article (Jumping Frenchmen of Maine)
is not the name you expected. Please check the SYNONYMS listing on the next
page to find alternate names, disorder subdivisions, and related disorders
covered by this article.
Synonyms
Jumping Frenchmen
Latah (Observed in Malaysia)
Myriachit (Observed in Siberia)
Information on the following disease can be found in the Related
Disorders section of this report:
Tourette Syndrome
Kok Disease
General Discussion
** REMINDER **
The information contained in the Rare Disease Database is provided for
educational purposes only. It should not be used for diagnostic or treatment
purposes. If you wish to obtain more information about this disorder, please
contact your personal physician and/or the agencies listed in the "Resources"
section of this report.
"Jumping Frenchmen" is a disorder characterized by an unusually extreme
startle reaction. The startle reaction is a natural response to an
unexpected noise or sight. This disorder was first identified during the
late nineteenth century in Maine and the Canadian province of Quebec.
Lumberjacks of French Canadian descent were originally associated with this
phenomenon but it has since been observed in other societies in many parts of
the world as well. "Jumping Frenchmen" is suspected to be a genetic disorder
and/or an extreme conditioned response to a particular situation possibly
influenced by cultural factors. Symptoms tend to improve with age.
Symptoms
The symptoms of "Jumping Frenchmen" usually begin after puberty or during the
teenage years. Individuals affected by this disorder display an extreme
startle reaction consisting of jumping, raising the arms, yelling, hitting,
obeying sudden commands, or involuntarily repeating sentences. The intensity
of the response may be affected by the frequency of being startled, fatigue
and/or stress. The affected person must be startled by an unexpected event
in order to elicit the reaction. Consequently other people tend to tease and
startle those affected by "Jumping Frenchmen" in order to cause the unusual
reaction.
Causes
The cause of "Jumping Frenchmen" is unknown. It may be a hereditary
neurological condition or it may have a strong cultural influence within
relatively isolated groups of people. The startle reaction is a normal human
response to sudden and unexpected noise or movement. Suddenly startling an
individual who has "Jumping Frenchmen" causes an extreme startle reaction
which is even more intense if the person is tired or anxious. In some cases,
this reaction may include violence. Some medical researchers believe the
phenomenon may be triggered by a specific situation as a conditioned
response. Others believe it may be a hereditary neurological condition.
Affected Population
Originally, "Jumping Frenchmen" was identified in the Moosehead Lake region
of Maine among French Canadian lumberjacks. It seems to have been common in
the lumber camps of the region during the nineteenth and early twentieth
centuries. However, "Jumping Frenchmen" is not limited to French Canadian
lumberjacks. Similar behavior has been observed in specific populations in
Malaysia, Siberia, India, Somalia, Yemen and the Philippines. The disorder
tends to occur more often in males than in females.
Related Disorders
Tourette Syndrome is a hereditary neurological movement disorder which begins
between the ages of two and sixteen. The disorder is characterized by
involuntary muscular movements known as tics and uncontrollable vocal sounds;
sometimes inappropriate words may occur. Tourette Syndrome is not a
degenerative disorder and those affected can expect to live a normal life
span. Gilles de la Tourette Syndrome has some similarities to "Jumping
Frenchmen". Imitative repetition of words (echolalia) or actions
(echopraxia) is common to both conditions. However, aside from these
symptoms there is no relationship between these two disorders. (For more
information on this disorder, choose "Tourette Syndrome" as your search term
in the Rare Disease Database).
Hyperekplexia is characterized by an excessive startle response, falling
without loss of consciousness, a history of resistance to stretching
(hypertonia) in infancy, exaggeration of reflexes (hyperreflexia), and an
unstable gait. Individuals with this disorder do not have the imitative
repetition of words or actions, or the forced obedience response found in
"Jumping Frenchmen". Hyperekplexia is thought to be a hereditary disorder.
"Startle Epilepsy" can occur after Hemiplegia (a syndrome characterized
by muscle spasms of both limbs on one side of the body) or Infantile
Encephalopathy (a degenerative brain disorder of infants). It is expressed
as a brief muscular contraction predominating on one-half of the body in
response to sudden noise or movement. This reaction is not as complex and
directed as "Jumping Frenchmen". These patients often fall when startled and
also have other seizure manifestations. (For more information on this
disorder, choose "Epilepsy" as your search term in the Rare Disease Database.
Kok Disease is a rare hereditary neurological disorder. Individuals with
this disorder have an excessive startle reaction to sudden unexpected noise,
movement, or touch. Arching of the head, jerking movements (myoclonic
jerks), or falling swiftly to the ground (like a log) without loss of
consciousness tend to occur when the individual is startled. Other symptoms
may include extreme muscle tension sometimes causing stiffness (hypertonia),
exaggeration of reflexes (hyperreflexia), and an unstable gait.
Therapies: Standard
Eliminating the practice of intentionally startling and/or teasing an
individual so as to cause a jumping response can help to reduce or end
episodes. The startle response can be avoided if the patient expects a
sudden noise or movement. Symptoms tend to get milder with age, but more
intense with stress or anxiety.
Therapies: Investigational
This disease entry is based upon medical information available through July
1990. Since NORD's resources are limited, it is not possible to keep every
entry in the Rare Disease Database completely current and accurate. Please
check with the agencies listed in the Resources section for the most current
information about this disorder.
Resources
For more information on Jumping Frenchmen of Maine, please contact:
National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD)
P.O. Box 8923
New Fairfield, CT 06812-1783
(203) 746-6518
NIH/National Institute of Neurological Disorders & Stroke (NINDS)
9000 Rockville Pike
Bethesda, MD 20892
(301) 496-5751
(800) 352-9424
References
JUMPING FRENCHMEN OF MAINE: M. Sainte-Hilaire, et al.; Neurology (September
1986, issue 36 (9)). Pp. 1269-1271.