Corticobasal degeneration (patient information)

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Editor-in-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S.,M.D. [1] Phone:617-632-7753; Associate Editor-In-Chief: Lakshmi Gopalakrishnan, M.B.B.S.

Corticobasal degeneration is a progressive neurological disorder characterized by nerve cell loss and atrophy (shrinkage) of multiple areas of the brain including the cerebral cortex and the basal ganglia.

• Initial symptoms, which typically begin at or around age 60, may first appear on one side of the body (unilateral), but eventually affect both sides as the disease progresses.

• Symptoms include:

• Poor coordination,
• Akinesia (an absence of movements),
• Rigidity (a resistance to imposed movement),
• Disequilibrium (impaired balance),
• Limb dystonia (abnormal muscle postures).

• Other symptoms:

• Cognitive and visual-spatial impairments,
• Apraxia (loss of the ability to make familiar, purposeful movements),
• Hesitant and halting speech,
• Myoclonus (muscular jerks),
• Dysphagia (difficulty swallowing).

• There is no treatment available to slow the course of corticobasal degeneration, and the symptoms of the disease are generally resistant to therapy.

• Drugs used to treat Parkinson disease-type symptoms do not produce any significant or sustained improvement.

• Clonazepam may help the myoclonus.

• Occupational, physical, and speech therapy can help in managing disability.

• Parkinson’s disease

Directions to Hospitals Treating Corticobasal degeneration

• Corticobasal degeneration usually progresses slowly over the course of 6 to 8 years.

• An individual with corticobasal degeneration eventually becomes unable to walk.

• Death is generally caused by pneumonia
• Other complications of severe debility such as sepsis or pulmonary embolism.

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

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