Ferrazzano G, et al. - According to different disease courses, researchers ascertained if the varying phenomenology of eyelid spasms becomes apparent sequentially during the course of the disease or aggregates in separate clusters by longitudinally assessing the clinical features of 60 blepharospasm (BSP) patients over a 5-year period, as well as tested the blink reflex recovery cycle in a subgroup of BSP patients. They found that the appearance or increased duration and frequency of prolonged spasms severity over the 5-year follow-up period indicated a significant exacerbation of BSP. Changes in the excitability of brainstem interneurons is seen along with prolonged spasms. They suggested that pathophysiological mechanisms underlying spasms may be worsened by aging-related impacts.