A. Pick's disease is a progressive dementia that is relatively rare.
Pick described the first case as a 71-year-old man who presented with dementia, personality changes and loss of speech.
At the autopsy, the patient's brain showed unusual shrinkage of the frontal cortex, which is the region involved in reasoning and other higher mental functions.
The person may develop compulsory behaviors and obsessional overeating, changes in dietary preference, and obsessive cravings for certain types of food --- usually sweet foods.
Speech problems are common, from a reduction in the patient's quality of speech to the amount of speech.
In the later stages of the disease, the patient may compulsively put any available object in his/her mouth.
Q. How is Pick's disease different from Alzheimer's disease?
A. In contrast to Alzheimer's disease, in which early memory loss predominates, the first symptoms of Pick's disease are often personality change, followed by a decline in function at work and home.
In the early stages of Pick's disease, the person usually remains aware of time and is able to recognize people and places, unlike the usual presentation of Alzheimer's disease.
In Alzheimer's disease, spatial and mathematical skills are usually affected early, while in Pick's disease these skills are usually relatively well-preserved until later.
A. Pick's disease usually presents after age 40 and is less common after age 60.
A. Pick's disease is difficult to diagnose while the patient is alive, because its symptoms are so variable and they overlap so much with Alzheimer's disease.
Q. Does anything slow the progression of the disease?
A. We are not aware, at this time, of anything to slow the progression, but our best defense is to maintain a healthy lifestyle including sufficient sleep, routine exercise, healthy diet and regular check-ups with your physician.