Pick’s disease is a rare form of frontotemporal dementia (FTD) that affects the brain and nervous system. Pick’s disease is characterized by a progressive deterioration in mental abilities, including memory loss, personality changes, and impaired judgment.
In this blog post, we will discuss all about Pick’s disease – its symptoms, causes, and treatment options.
Pick’s Disease
Pick’s disease is a rare neurodegenerative disorder that is characterized by the loss of nerve cells in the brain and certain central nervous system problems. The disease was first described in the early 1900s by Dr. Arnold Pick, a Czech neurologist.
Although Pick’s disease was once thought to be a variant of Alzheimer’s disease, it is now considered to be a separate condition.
Pick’s disease is relatively rare, accounting for less than 5 percent of all cases of dementia.
What Causes Pick’s Disease?
Pick’s disease is rare frontotemporal dementia (FTD) that leads to progressive impairment of cognitive and physical function. The cause of Pick’s disease is not fully understood, but it is thought to be linked to the accumulation of abnormal proteins in the brain.
The Tau Proteins
These proteins, also known as tau tangles, are involved in the formation of neuronal cell structures called microtubules. In Pick’s disease, the tau proteins become abnormally aggregated and deposit themselves in the brain nerve cells, disrupting the normal functions of brain nerve cells, and causing the nerve cells to die.
This leads to a loss of function in the affected areas of the brain and eventually to frontotemporal dementia (FTD). There is currently no cure for this disease and no effective treatments available.
However, research into the causes and potential treatments for the disease is ongoing, and there is hope that a breakthrough will be made in the future.
Symptoms Of Pick’s Disease
This disease is a type of frontotemporal dementia, which means it affects the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain, thus the central nervous system. These areas of the brain and nervous system control personality, behavior, and language.
People with Pick’s disease often develop dementia-like symptoms such as :
1. Personality And Behavioral Changes
Patients may exhibit behavioral changes in the early stages like becoming more irritable, impulsive, or agitated. And they may have difficulty controlling their emotions, and abrupt mood changes which can lead to outbursts of crying or anger.
2. Decreased Ability With Language
They may also have trouble understanding or using language and communicating.
3. Daily Living Activities Failure
As the disease progresses, they may have trouble with activities of daily living such as dressing, bathing, and eating.
4. Decreased Interest In Fun Activities
Patients may lose interest in activities that they once enjoyed, and withdraw from social interactions.
5. Low Memory Retention
Patients may have trouble understanding or remembering new information. Also, they may exhibit symptoms such as repetitive speech and poor judgment.
How Is Pick’s Disease Diagnosed?
Pick’s disease is frontotemporal dementia that primarily affects older adults. A diagnosis of Pick’s disease is typically made based on the following:
1. Review Of The Patient’s Medical History
When diagnosing Pick’s disease, doctors will start by taking a detailed medical history. This will include asking about any family history of neurological disorders, as well as any personal history of mental health problems.
The doctor will also ask about any recent changes in mood or unacceptable or dangerous behaviors, as well as any disturbing symptoms that may be present.
2. A Neurological Exam
During the exam, the doctor will test the patient on mental functions like:
- – memory
- – language skills
- – Ability to pay attention and focus
- – problem-solving skills
- – coordination and balance
3. Imaging Tests
Blood tests, Lumbar puncture, EEG, and an MRI or CT scan of the brain may also be ordered. All these tests are to look for changes in brain tissue structure and test brain metabolism that are characteristic of Pick’s disease.
An MRI is not typically ordered as it does not usually show changes until the disease is quite advanced. A biopsy of the brain is considered the gold standard for a more accurate diagnosis but is not always necessary.
An accurate diagnosis of Pick’s disease can be difficult, as the symptoms of Pick’s disease are similar to those of other types of dementia, such as Alzheimer’s disease with memory loss.
The Relationship Between Alzheimer’s And Pick’s Disease
Though Pick’s Disease and Alzheimer’s have some similarities, they are fairly different in other ways. For starters, here are some similarities:
- They are both degenerative diseases that affect the brain and mental function. Although Alzheimer’s is the most common form of dementia, Pick’s is a less common but more debilitating disease.
- Both diseases cause problems with memory, cognition, and lack of appropriate or positive behaviors.
- In terms of treatment, there is no known cure for either Pick’s disease or Alzheimer’s disease. However, there are treatments that can help to slow down the progression of both diseases.
- Finally, though the causes of both Pick’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease are still not fully understood, researchers believe that some abnormal genes may play a role in both conditions.
And here are some key differences:
- – Pick’s disease is more common in men while Alzheimer’s is more common in women.
- – Pick’s disease progresses much faster than Alzheimer’s disease. People with Pick’s disease often live for around seven to ten years after diagnosis while people with Alzheimer’s often live for around ten to fifteen years after diagnosis.
- – Alzheimer’s disease typically affects older adults while pick’s disease can develop at any age.
- – Alzheimer’s disease is characterized by the buildup of plaque in the brain, while Pick’s disease is characterized by the accumulation of tau proteins.
Treatment For Patients With Pick’s Disease
There is no known cure for Pick’s disease, and current treatments are aimed at managing the symptoms and slowing the progression of the disease.
There is no effective medical treatment for Pick’s disease, but there are some symptomatic treatments that can help patients manage the symptoms of the disease.
These include:
* Treatments to manage mood swings and behavior, such as antidepressants and antipsychotic medications.
* Speech and language therapy to help with communication difficulties.
* Physical, occupational, and speech therapy to help with daily living activities.
* counseling and support groups to help patients and their caregivers cope with the disease.
Conclusion
Pick’s disease is rare frontotemporal dementia, and as such, there is little information on the long-term prognosis. So, ignoring inappropriate behaviors that are sudden is not advisable. However, the disease is progressive, and patients typically have a decline in function over time.
Most patients with Pick’s disease require full-time care and eventually lose the ability to communicate, eat, or walk. So, it’s advisable that they seek legal advice early.
The average life expectancy for a patient with Pick’s disease is about eight to ten years from the time of diagnosis, but some people may live for 20 years or more.
Do you have any questions about pick’s disease? Leave them in the comments below and I’ll do my best to answer them! Thanks for reading!