Objective: To review the available literature on FMD in older adults (aged ≥ 65 years) in Latin America, focusing on epidemiology, clinical features, diagnostic challenges, treatment, and prognosis, and to identify research gaps and priorities.
Background: Functional movement disorders (FMD) are abnormal involuntary movements that cannot be explained by structural neurological disease and fall under the spectrum of functional neurological disorders. Although much is known about FMD in general, there is a paucity of data on their presentation, diagnosis, and management in older adults, particularly in Latin America.
Method: Systematic searches were conducted in PubMed, Embase, LILACS, SciELO and Google Scholar for studies reporting FMD in older adults in Latin America during the last 10 years. Additionally, the study was registered in PROSPERO. (CRD420251250181). Data extracted included country, sample size, mean/median age, FMD phenotype, diagnostic approach, treatment, and outcomes. However, narrative synthesis was used due to heterogeneity and paucity of data. Documents in English and Spanish were analyzed.
Results: The search strategy and approach revealed extremely limited region-specific data. No eligible cohort or epidemiological studies focusing on older adults with FMD in Latin America were identified. Existing reports are descriptive or include younger adults; age-specific prevalence, phenotype distribution, and outcomes are unknown.
Conclusion: There is a major evidence gap concerning FMD in older adults in Latin America, which poses clinical risks including misdiagnosis, delayed rehabilitation and missed age-appropriate management. A region-tailored research agenda is proposed, including epidemiological studies, age-stratified cohorts, diagnostic and therapeutic adaptations, and capacity-building for multidisciplinary care.
To cite this abstract in AMA style:
M. Bonilla-Arbeláez, M. Wongpaiboon, J. Urrea-Perez, A. Ramirez-Zamora, E. Urrea-Mendoza. Functional Movement Disorders in Older Adults in Latin America: A Narrative Literature Review [abstract]. Mov Disord. 2026; 41 (suppl 1). https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/functional-movement-disorders-in-older-adults-in-latin-america-a-narrative-literature-review/. Accessed October 1, 2026.« Back to 2026 International Congress
MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/functional-movement-disorders-in-older-adults-in-latin-america-a-narrative-literature-review/