If you get too emotional for no apparent reason, the reason could be PBA, a disorder that causes sudden and unpredictable episodes of laughing, crying or other emotional displays.

PBA can occur in people diagnosed with neurologic disease or brain injury such as:

• Dementias including Alzheimer’s disease
• Parkinson’s disease
• Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
• Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
• Stroke
• Traumatic brain injury

PBA is a neurologic disorder that may occur when disease or injury damages the area of the brain that controls normal expression of emotion. This damage can disrupt brain signaling causing a “short circuit,” triggering episodes of involuntary emotional expressions.

PBA episodes may be confused with depression, and as a result PBA is often misdiagnosed, however you should ask your doctor.