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Pick's disease - Pick's disease Symptom, Cause, Treatment
Pick's disease is a relatively rare, degenerative brain illness that causes dementia. It gradually damages brain cells and impairs their function. First described in 1892, with the defining pathologic characteristics first reported by Alois Alzheimer in 1911, Pick disease now is considered by some to be part of a "complex" of neurodegenerative disorders with similar or related histopathologic and clinical features (Kertesz, 1994; Kertesz, 2003). every symptom will be experienced by every person, nor will these symptoms develop in a pre-ordained sequence. When the decline in mental abilities is severe enough to interfere with a person's ability to carry out everyday activities, it is called dementia . It is often compared to Alzheimer disease. Pick's disease usually begins after age 40 and is less common after age 60. However, Pick disease is different from Alzheimer disease in several ways.
The diagnosis of Pick's disease is difficult during life, because its symptoms are so variable and because they overlap so much with Alzheimer's disease. It is a progressive disease, meaning that the symptoms gradually worsen over time and do not get better. Pick disease is defined pathologically by severe atrophy, neuronal loss, and gliosis The treatment of the disease is essentially the same as that of Alzheimer's disease; supervision and assistance for the patient aimed at maximizing his or her quality of life, medications to manage particular symptoms, and emotional and substantive support for the caregiver. . Also, Pick bodies and neuron swelling are difficult to detect in a living person, so Pick disease may go undiagnosed or be misdiagnosed. People with Pick disease are sometimes thought to have Alzheimer disease.
Symptoms of Pick's disease
Some common symptoms of Pick's disease :
- Impulsive behavior in a usually cautious person
- Saying or doing inappropriate things in public
- The person may begin overeating, eating greedily, eating excessive amounts of sweets, or drinking large amounts of alcohol.
- The person may have problems paying attention, concentrating, or carrying on a sustained conversation.
- Poor judgment
- lack of spontaneity
- striking loss of concern and lack of anxiety
- indecision
Causes of Pick's disease
The common causes of Pick's disease :
- Some members may present primarily with amyotrophy, others with primary supranuclear gaze palsy, Parkinsonism, schizophrenialike thought disorder, or progressive aphasia and/or apraxia.
- The specific cause of Pick disease is unknown.
- Scientists have recently determined that these affected cells contain deposits of an abnormal form of the protein tau.
- In a small number of cases, the disease is hereditary, meaning that it runs in the family.
- Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia, and the disease most people associate with memory loss.
Treatment of Pick's disease
- Consider empiric treatment for herpes simplex encephalitis, if the onset is acute, especially if fever and seizures are also present.
- If prominent inattention is present and epilepsy is considered, consider further second-line workup, including EEG or an empiric trial of an anticonvulsant.
- Some patients may need hearing-aids, glasses, cataract surgery , or other treatments.
- As with Alzheimer's disease and other types of dementia maximizing quality of life is the key area for treatment.
- The list of treatments mentioned in various sources for Pick's Disease includes the following list. Always seek professional medical advice about any treatment or change in treatment plans
- Current treatments for the symptoms of FTD include tranquilizers, antidepressants, serotonin-based supplements and behavioral therapy.
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