Behavioral variant of frontotemporal dementia
Alternate names[edit | edit source]
Pick disease of the brain; Lobar atrophy of the brain; Dementia with lobar atrophy and neuronal cytoplasmic inclusions; bvFTD; Pick's disease
Definition[edit | edit source]
Pick’s disease is a neurological condition characterized by a slowly progressive deterioration of behavior, personality, or language.
Summary[edit | edit source]
- People with Pick's disease have abnormal substances (called Pick bodies) inside nerve cells in the damaged areas of the brain.
- Pick bodies contain an abnormal form of a protein called tau.
- This protein is found in all nerve cells, but people with Pick's disease have an abnormal amount or type of this protein.
Cause[edit | edit source]
The underlying cause of Pick's disease is unknown.
Inheritance[edit | edit source]
In some cases, the disease runs in families.
Signs and symptoms[edit | edit source]
- Behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD), involves changes in personality, behavior, and judgment.
- People with this dementia may have problems with cognition, but their memory may stay relatively intact.
- They can act strangely around other people, resulting in embarrassing social situations.
- Often, they don’t know or care that their behavior is unusual and don’t show any consideration for the feelings of others.
- They may also do impulsive things that are out of character or engage in repetitive behaviors.
- Over time, language and/or movement problems may occur, and the person needs more care and supervision.
Diagnosis[edit | edit source]
FTD is diagnosed based on symptoms and results of tests, including:
- Assessment of the mind and behavior (neuropsychological assessment)
- Brain MRI
- Electroencephalogram (EEG)
- Examination of the brain and nervous system (neurological exam)
- Examination of the fluid around the central nervous system (cerebrospinal fluid) after a lumbar puncture
- Head CT scan
- Tests of sensation, thinking and reasoning (cognitive function), and motor function
- Newer methods that test brain metabolism or protein deposits may better allow for more accurate diagnosis in the future
- Positron emission tomography (PET) scan of brain
- A brain biopsy is the only test that can confirm the diagnosis.
Treatment[edit | edit source]
- There is no specific treatment for FTD.
- Medicines may help manage mood swings.
- Sometimes, people with FTD take the same medicines used to treat other types of dementia.
- In some cases, stopping or changing medicines that worsen confusion or that are not needed can improve thinking and other mental functions.
Medicines include:
- Analgesics
- Anticholinergics
- Central nervous system depressants
- Cimetidine
- Lidocaine
- Medicines may be needed to control aggressive, dangerous, or agitated behaviors.
- Behavior modification can help some people control unacceptable or dangerous behaviors. This consists of rewarding appropriate or positive behaviors and ignoring inappropriate behaviors (when it is safe to do so).
- Talk therapy (psychotherapy) does not always work. This is because it can cause further confusion or disorientation.
- Reality orientation, which reinforces environmental and other cues, may help reduce disorientation.
- Depending on the symptoms and severity of the disease, monitoring and help with personal hygiene and self-care may be needed. Eventually, there may be a need for 24-hour care and monitoring at home or in a special facility. Family counseling can help the person cope with the changes needed for home care.
NIH genetic and rare disease info[edit source]
Behavioral variant of frontotemporal dementia is a rare disease.
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