Pick Disease - Causes, Symptoms & Treatment

Pick disease is a progressive dementia defined by clinical and pathologic criteria. Pick's Disease causes a slow shrinking of brain cells due to excess protein build-up. Pick disease is a brain disorder that causes slowly worsening decline of mental abilities. Pick's disease is thought to be due to a build up in the brain of an abnormal form of the protein tau. It causes personality changes, loss of social skills, loss of intellectual function, and speech disturbances. Pick's disease usually begins after age 40 and is less common after age 60. It is a disease that invariably worsens. The average course is about 5 years, but it ranges from 2-15 years. It is rare, accounting for between 1% and 5% of dementia. Pick disease is defined pathologically by severe atrophy, neuronal loss, and gliosis. Swollen (ballooned) neurons (Pick cells) and argentophilic neuronal inclusions known as Pick bodies disproportionally affect the frontal and temporal cortical regions. Symptoms may include lack of muscle coordination, brain degeneration, learning problems, loss of muscle tone, increased sensitivity to touch, spasticity, feeding and swallowing difficulties, slurred speech, and an enlarged liver and spleen. There may be clouding of the cornea and a characteristic cherry-red halo develops around the center of the retina. The disorder is progressive and invariably leads to increasing disability. The disease runs a shorter course than Alzheimer disease, on average about 6 years.

Pick's Disease is the result of a build-up of protein in the affected areas of the brain. Pick's disease is rare. It is more common in women than men. Pick disease occurs in a younger age group than dementia of the Alzheimer type. People with Pick's disease tend to behave inappropriately in different social settings. 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 changes in behavior continue to get worse and are often one of the most disturbing symptoms of the disease. Behavior modification may help some people control unacceptable or dangerous behaviors. In some cases, cognitive function may be improved by stopping or changing medications that worsen confusion or that are not essential to the care of the person. This may include medications such as anticholinergics, analgesics , cimetidine, central nervous system depressants, and lidocaine. Medication to control behaviors that can be dangerous to oneself or others. Antidepressants known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) may offer some relief from apathy and depression. Some patients may need hearing-aids, glasses, cataract surgery , or other treatments.

Causes of Pick Disease

Common Causes and Risk factors of Pick Disease

• Longstanding high blood pressure.
• Head trauma
• High levels of homocysteine.
• Female gender because women usually live longer than men.
• Schizophrenialike thought disorder.

Signs and Symptoms of Pick Disease

Common Sign and Symptoms of Pick Disease

• Lack of muscle coordination.
• Brain degeneration.
• learning problems.
• Loss of muscle tone.
• Increased sensitivity to touch.
• Spasticity.
• Feeding.
• Swallowing difficulties.
• Enlarged liver and spleen.

Treatment of Pick Disease

Common Treatment of Pick Disease

• Behavior modification may help some people control unacceptable or dangerous behaviors.
• Many different types of medications have been or are being tried in dementia. One group of drugs used in Alzheimer disease, the cholinesterase inhibitors.
• Medication to control behaviors that can be dangerous to oneself or others. Antidepressants known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) may offer some relief from apathy and depression.
• Some patients may need hearing-aids, glasses, cataract surgery , or other treatments.
• Anti-inflammatory drugs are being tried on the premise that inflammation is one cause of the brain damage in Pick disease.
• Hormone replacement therapy has been given to some women who have been through menopause and have dementia.
• Education and other forms of intellectual challenge may help protect people against the disease.
• High sugar content foods may need to be restricted in some patients with carbohydrate craving, which may indicate Klüver-Bucy syndrome.