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Binswanger's
Introduction
Treatment
Prognosis
Research
References
Organizations |
Binswanger's
disease?
Introduction
- What is
Binswanger's disease?
Binswanger's disease is an extremely rare form of
dementia characterized by cerebrovascular lesions in the deep white-matter of
the brain, loss of memory and cognition, and mood changes. Patients usually show
signs of abnormal blood pressure, stroke, blood abnormalities, disease of the
large blood vessels in the neck, and disease of the heart valves. Other
prominent features of the disease include urinary incontinence, difficulty
walking, parkinsonian-like tremors, and depression. These symptoms, which tend
to begin after the age of 60, are not always present in all patients and may
sometimes appear only as a passing phase. Seizures may also be present
Is
there any treatment?
There is no specific course of treatment for
Binswanger's disease. Treatment is symptomatic, often involving the use of
medications to control high blood pressure, depression, heart arrhythmias and
low blood pressure.
What
is the prognosis?
Binswanger's disease is a slowly progressive condition
for which there is no cure. The disorder is often marked by strokes and partial
recovery. Patients with this disorder usually die within 5 years after its
onset.
What research
is being done?
The NINDS conducts and supports a wide range of
research on dementing disorders, including dementias of old age such as
Binswanger's disease. The goals of this research are to improve the diagnosis of
dementias and to find ways to treat and prevent them. The National Institute on
Aging and the National Institute of Mental Health also support research related
to the dementias.
Selected
references
Babikian, V, and Ropper, A. Binswanger's disease: A review.
Stroke, 18:1; 2-12 (January-February 1987).
Roman,
G. Senile dementia of the Binswanger type. Journal of the American Medical
Association, 258:13; 1782-1788 (October 1987).
This
information is available courtesy of the National Institute of Neurological
Disorders and Stroke. It is in the public domain and can be downloaded, reproduced,
or copied without permission. For more information go to
http://www.ninds.nih.gov/health_and_medical/disorder_index.htm
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