Causes and Diagnosis of Pick’s disease
Pick’s disease is a relatively rare, degenerative brain illness that causes dementia. The first description of the disease was published in 1892 by Arnold Pick. Until recently it was thought that Pick’s disease could not be distinguished from Alzheimer’s disease during life. Consequently, it has been little studied, and much less is known about it than about Alzheimer’s disease.Pick’s disease is a disorder that produces deterioration in mental function caused by loss of brain tissue in decrete areas (focal lesions). Pick’s disease is marked by the presence of abnormalities in brain cells (pick’s bodies), which can be found in the affected areas and elsewhere in the brain. Pick’s disease is characterized by circumscribed cerebral atrophy and is also known as lobar sclerosis. It can be mistaken for other presenile dementias, but it is extremely rare, particularly when compared to the incidence of Alzheimer’s disease.
Pick’s Disease Causes
Less common etiologies include Alzheimer’s dementia, postconcussion syndrome, Rasmussen’s encephalitis, nonconvulsive status epilepticus, dissociative state, subdural hematoma, trauma, severe hypoglycemia, sedative-hypnotic drug intoxication, sensorineural hearing loss, herpes encephalitis, and tertiary syphilis.
Like Huntington’s Disease and Lewy Body Disease, Pick’s Disease is the result of a build-up of protein in the affected areas of the brain. The accumulation of abnormal brain cells, known as Pick’s bodies, eventually leads to changes in character, socially inappropriate behavior, and poor decision making, progressing to a severe impairment in intellect, memory and speech.
The exact cause of the abnormal form of the protein is unknown. A gene for the disease has not yet been found. Most cases of Pick’s disease are not passed down through families.
Pick’s disease is rare. It is more common in women than men. It can occur in people as young as 20, but usually begins between ages 40 and 60. The average age at which it begins is 54.
Pick’s disease is marked by the presence of abnormalities in brain cells called Pick’s bodies. These are found in the affected areas as well as elsewhere in the brain. Pick’s bodies are fibres that look very different from the neurofibrillary tangles found in Alzheimer’s disease. Pick’s bodies are straight rather than paired and helical.
Diagnosis of Pick’s Disease
Pick’s disease (Pick disease)is the best known form of Frontotemporal dementias. It results in the gradual loss of social skills and personality and may also include loss of language skills, impaired memory and judgment.
Brain cells are affected by abnormal deposits of the brain protein tau that damages cells in the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain.
Dementia Due to Pick’s Disease symptoms and diagnostic criteria follow below. While some of these Dementia Due to Pick’s Disease symptoms may be recognized by family, teachers, legal and medical professionals, and others, only properly trained mental health professionals (psychologists, psychiatrists, professional counselors etc.) can or should even attempt to make a mental health diagnosis.
