Pick's disease is a rare and permanent form of dementia that is similar to Alzheimer's disease, except that it tends to affect only certain areas of the brain.
Alternative NamesSemantic dementia; Dementia - semantic; Frontotemporal dementia; Arnold Pick's disease
Causes, incidence, and risk factorsPeople with Pick's disease have abnormal substances (called Pick bodies and Pick cells) inside nerve cells in the damaged areas of the brain.
Pick bodies and Pick cells contain an abnormal form of a protein called tau. This protein is found in all nerve cells. But some people with Pick's disease have an abnormal amount or type of this protein.
The exact cause of the abnormal form of the protein is unknown. Many different abnormal genes have been found that can cause Pick's disease. Many cases of Pick's disease are passed down through families.
Pick's disease is rare. 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.
SymptomsThe disease gets worse slowly. Tissues in the temporal and frontal lobes of the brain start to shrink over time. Symptoms such as behavior changes, speech difficulty, and impaired thinking occur slowly, but continue to get worse.
The early personality changes can help doctors tell Pick's disease apart from Alzheimer's. (Memory loss is often the main, and earliest, symptom of Alzheimer's.)
People with Pick's disease tend to behave the wrong way in different social settings. The changes in behavior continue to get worse and are often one of the most disturbing symptoms of the disease. Some patients will have more prominent difficulty with decision making, complex tasks, or language (trouble finding or understanding words or writing).
General symptoms are listed below.
Behavioral changes:
Emotional changes:
Language changes:
Neurological problems:
Other problems:
Signs and testsThe doctor will ask you about your medical history and symptoms.
Your health care provider might order tests to help rule out other causes of dementia, including dementia due to metabolic causes. Pick's disease is tentatively diagnosed based on symptoms and results of tests, including:
A brain biopsy is the only test that can confirm the diagnosis.
TreatmentThere is no specific treatment for Pick's disease. Certain antidepressants and antipsychotics may help manage mood swings related to Pick's disease, but further research is needed.
Sometimes patients with Pick's take the same medications used to treat other types of dementia, such as medications that decrease the breakdown of the chemical messenger, acetylcholine (anticholinesterase inhibitors), and memantine. However, there is no conclusive evidence that these help.
In some cases, stopping or changing medications that worsen confusion or that are not essential can improve thinking and other cognitive functions. This may include medications such as:
It's important to treat any disorders that contribute to confusion. These may include:
Treating any medical and psychiatric disorders often helps improve mental function.
Medications may be needed to control aggressive, dangerous, or agitatedbehaviors.
Some patients may benefit from hearing aids, glasses, cataract surgery, or other treatments.
Behavior modification can help some people control unacceptable or dangerous behaviors. This consists of rewarding appropriate or positive behaviors and ignoring inappropriate behaviors (when it's safe to do so).
Formal psychotherapy treatment doesn't always work, because it can cause further confusion or disorientation.
Reality orientation, which reinforces environmental and other cues, may help reduce disorientation.
Depending on the symptoms and severity of the disease, the patient may need monitoring and help with personal hygiene and self-care. Eventually, there may be a need for 24-hour care and monitoring at home or in a special facility. Family counseling can help the person cope with the changes needed for home care.
Care may include:
People may need legal advice early in the course of the disorder. Advance directives, power of attorney, and other legal actions can make it easier to make ethical decisions regarding the care of the person with Pick's disease.
Support GroupsSome communities may have support groups (such as the Alzheimer's - support group, elder care - support group, or others).
Expectations (prognosis)The disorder quickly and steadily becomes worse. Patients become totally disabled early in the course of the disease.
Pick's disease commonly causes death within 2 - 10 years, usually from infection but sometimes from general failure of the body systems.
ComplicationsCall your health care provider if you develop symptoms of Pick's disease.
Call your health care provider or go to the emergency room if mental function gets worse (which may mean that another disorder has developed).
PreventionThere is no known prevention.
ReferencesKnopman DS. Alzheimer's disease and other dementias. In: Goldman L, Ausiello D, eds. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007:chap 425.
William Sackheim died on December 1, 2004, in Beverly Hills, California, USA of picks disease.
House fly picks up germs via legs and transmits to food.
If there are 3 orange picks out of every 5 picks, this means that the proportion of orange picks is 3/5. To find the total number of picks when there are 12 orange picks, you can set up the equation: ( \frac{3}{5} \times \text{Total Picks} = 12 ). Solving for Total Picks gives ( \text{Total Picks} = 12 \times \frac{5}{3} = 20 ). Therefore, there are 20 total picks.
In the term 'hot picks', the word 'hot' is an adjective, describing the noun 'picks'.
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Bobby Orr's wife, Margaret, has publicly shared that she has been diagnosed with Pick's disease, a rare form of dementia that affects personality and behavior. This condition can lead to significant challenges for both the individual and their family. Orr has been a vocal advocate for raising awareness about the disease and the impact it has on caregivers and loved ones.