Progress and Prospects in Parkinson's Research/Atypical Parkinsonism/Corticobasal Degeneration (CBD)

< Back to: Atypical parkinsonism

"Corticobasal Degeneration is a neurological disease, the symptoms of which can be difficult to distinguish from Parkinson's Disease"

Background
CBD 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. It is a progressive, incurable and largely untreatable condition, the causes and pathology of which have yet to be determined

Onset is generally around the age of 60 and an average fatal outcome is 8 years. Typical symptoms include bradykinesia, freezing, impaired balance, rigidity, muscle jerks, visual and cognitive impairment, swallowing problems and speeh impediments. Many patients lose the ability to walk.

Research
2011

Mastrolilli et al reviewed the diagnostic criteria for CBD.

"Molecularly CBD is a taupathy, characterised by accumulation of abnormal ﬁlamentous inclusions of hyperphosphorylated tau-protein in neurons and glia, similarly to Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP), and some forms of frontotemporal dementia with Parkinsonism. This molecular overlap, especially with PSP is very argued, and whether they are the extremities of the spectrum of a single disorder or two diﬀerent disorders with a similar genetic predisposition is not clear."

Related Pages
< Back to: Atypical parkinsonism