There are numerous diseases associated with muscle twitches. According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health, muscle twitches, also known as fasciculations, are fine movements of a small area of muscle, and although most muscle twitching is minor and goes unnoticed, it can signal an underlying nervous system disorder. If a person experiences long-term or persistent muscle twitches, she should contact a medical professional.
Spasmodic Torticollis
Spasmodic torticollis is a disease that's associated with muscle twitches. According to the National Spasmodic Torticollis Association, spasmodic torticollis is a painful and debilitating neurological movement disorder caused by brain dysfunction, and involves either intermittent or sustained contractions of neck muscles, which control the head's position. Spasmodic torticollis is characterized by a malposition of the head, either to one side or forward or backward. There are three distinct types of spasmodic torticollis: tonic, clonic and mixed. Tonic spasmodic torticollis involves the head turning to one side, whereas clonic spasmodic torticollis involves a shaking of the head. Mixed spasmodic torticollis involves both turning and shaking of the head. According to the NSTA, spasmodic torticollis is more common in women than men, and it often manifests in people between the ages of 25 and 55.
Kennedy's Disease
Kennedy's disease is a disease that's associated with muscle twitches. The Kennedy's Disease Association a non-profit organization dedicated to improving public awareness of Kennedy's disease, states that Kennedy's disease, also known as spinal bulbar muscular atrophy, or SBMA, is a rare, incurable, progressive and non-treatable genetic neuromuscular disease. Kennedy's disease is characterized by muscle weakness and wasting throughout a person's body that is most apparent in his arms, legs and face. Kennedy's disease is associated with speech and swallowing problems, along with muscle fasciculations, or twitching, which can be seen through the skin. According to the KDA, Kennedy's disease is an adult-onset condition, and symptoms typically appear in people between the ages of 30 and 50. Men who inherit the gene that causes Kennedy's disease show symptoms, while women who inherit the gene rarely exhibit symptoms.
Lyme Disease
Lyme disease is a disease that is associated with muscle twitches. According to the American Lyme Disease Foundation, Lyme disease is an infection caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi, which is carried by deer ticks. The bacterium travels through a person's bloodstream and infects various body tissues, causing numerous symptoms, many of which are severe. Common symptoms associated with Lyme disease include an expanding rash radiating from the tick bite location, joint pain, chills, fever, fatigue, aching muscles, numbness or tingling in the extremities and facial paralysis. The Canadian Lyme Disease Foundation states that twitching of facial muscles and other muscles is also a common symptom associated with Lyme disease. The ALDF notes that early treatment of Lyme disease--during the initial two weeks following infection--is routine and typically results in a full cure, but that the cure rate decreases the longer treatment is delayed.
