Abraham Myerson: A Pioneer in the Study of the Glabellar Reflex in Neurology
Relfa Proano1, Brandon Dsouza2, Brianna Lupo3, Joyce Jimenez Zambrano4
1Neurology, Larkin Community hospital, 2Dr. D.Y. Patil Medical College, Hospital and Research Centre, 3University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences & Sanford Health, 4Neurology, University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences & Sanford Health
Objective:
To highlight the significant contributions of Abraham Myerson to neurology, focusing on the persistent glabellar reflex known as Myerson’s sign and its relevance in neurological examinations.
Background:
Abraham Myerson, a notable American neurologist and psychiatrist of the early 20th century, dedicated his career to exploring the intersection of neurological and psychiatric disorders. He identified the persistent glabellar reflex, termed Myerson’s sign, which is recognized as a frontal release sign. This sign is characterized by an inability to suppress blinking during repeated taps on the glabella and may indicate potential neurodegeneration in the appropriate clinical context.
Design/Methods:
A comprehensive literature review was conducted using PubMed and Google Scholar to examine Myerson’s contributions to neurology and the clinical relevance of Myerson’s Sign in diagnosing neurological conditions.
Results:
Born in Lithuania and immigrating to the United States as a child, Myerson was a pioneer in studying the inheritance of mental disorders but gained prominence in neurology through his identification of Myerson’s sign. This sign is particularly associated with Parkinson’s disease, where Myerson noted that patients exhibited persistent blinking after repeated glabellar taps—a manifestation of the primitive glabellar reflex. Unlike healthy individuals, who typically show habituation and reduced blinking, patients with neurodegenerative conditions maintain this reflex. Myerson’s sign has become an essential component of the neurological examination for Parkinson’s disease and other neurodegenerative disorders.
Conclusions:
Abraham Myerson’s identification of the glabellar reflex remains a useful tool in the neurological examination, offering a quick and non-invasive method to assess patients for neurodegenerative conditions.
Disclaimer: Abstracts were not reviewed by Neurology® and do not reflect the views of Neurology® editors or staff.