Pick Disease Symptoms
Pick's disease is a neurological disease which determines a rare type of dementia (frontotemporal dementia). The disease usually affects people of 40-55 years old but there have been documented cases of patient younger than 30 or older than 60; it has also been noticed that the disease affects more womnt than men. The disease causes the brain cells to shrink due to the apparition inside the brain cells of large proteic aggregates, also known as Pick's bodies. Although that the disease has similar symptoms to other diseases that cause frontotemporal dementia (eg Alzheimer) in Pick's disease the brain damage is focal, not diffuse.


The symptoms of Pick's disease, especially in the early stages are determinned by frontal lobe damage. This is why the first symptoms are affecting emotional functioning and social skills (unlike in Alzheimer's disease where the memory is impaired first). The patient presents mood swings, desinhibition, euphoria, light headaches and his social abilities deteriorate. At the beginning of the disease the behavioral changes may go unnoticed but as the disease progresses, the patient may become extremely withdrawn or extroverted, his / her sexual behavior may change and there may be noticed an increased libido. This feature and  other symptoms such as aggressivity, impatience, rudeness and the loss of inhibition may be very disturbing and it may even make necessary law enforcement  interventions.

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In the early stages of the disease language problems may occur. The patient has difficulties in naming objects or finding words; instead of finding the word to name an object the patient will describe it; but these problems are not marked.


As the disease progresses the patient's alimentary habits changes. The person with Pick's disease may have an increased appetite, even gluttony, he/she may manifest an obsessive-compulsive behavior towards food such as overeating or eating only a few or even one type of food. Excessive drinking (alcohol) occurs, although prior the onset of Pick's disease the patient did not have drinking problems.

All this disturbances plus the inability to function in social contexts, the affected judgment, and the difficulties in keeping a line of thought will make the patient unable to find or keep a job.




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In time the language difficulties increase; echolalia (repeating words other people say), aphasia (difficulties in understanding speech or difficulties in speaking) may occur and writing and reading abilities are affected as well. Other emotional changes become more obvious: lack of empathy or warmth, a decreased interest in daily activities, impulsivity and lack of interest concerning personal hygiene.

There may also appear physical and neurological symptoms: urinary incontinence, weakness, stiffness and muscle rigidity, lack of movement coordination and progressive memory loss.

Unfortunately there is no treatment or cure for Pick's disease and the disease always leads to deterioration but there are treatments that ameliorate the behavioral problems; speech and occupational therapy may also be useful and behavioral modification techniques may have an impact on social integration. The life expectancy in Pick's disease it's usually 2-15 years and so, the treatment must focus on improving the patient's life quality.

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