Corticobasal Degeneration

Corticobasal Degeneration

Signs and Symptoms
Diagnosis
Treatment

Signs and Symptoms

Corticobasal degeneration (CBD) generally occurs in patients age 45 to 70, with women affected more often than men. The initial symptoms often include stiff, shaky, slow and clumsy movements in either the arms or legs. Other early symptoms may include:

• Balance -- Difficulty walking and balancing
• Memory -- Short-term memory problems, such as repeating questions or misplacing objects
• Muscle Control -- Difficulty controlling the muscles of the face and mouth
• Speech -- Progressive difficulty speaking or articulating as well as difficulty comprehending language

Symptoms related to muscle control usually begin on one side of the body and spread gradually to the other. There may be difficulties in completing specific tasks, such as opening a door or brushing one's teeth or using tools such as a can opener. When a leg is affected, a patient may have problems with complex movements such as dancing. As the disease progresses, a patient may begin to trip and fall. A patient also may experience uncontrollable movement of an arm or leg.

In the past, patients have been diagnosed on the basis of movement problems that appear similar to Parkinson's disease. CBD patients also experience many symptoms that are not characteristic of Parkinson's and it is sometimes referred to as a "Parkinson's-plus"' syndrome.

Some patients experience memory or behavioral problems. Patients may have difficulty with expression of language, such as finding the right word or name. Reading, writing and simple mathematical calculations also may be impaired. In addition, personality changes, inappropriate behavior and repetitive and compulsive activities similar to those in frontotemporal dementia are common in CBD.

Reviewed by health care specialists at UCSF Medical Center.
Last updated May 8, 2007