Overview Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome refers to two related conditions caused by severe thiamine (vitamin B1) deficiency: Wernicke encephalopathy, an acute and reversible medical emergency, and Korsakoff syndrome, a chronic memory disorder that can follow if Wernicke encephalopathy is untreated or under-treated. Signs and Symptoms Symptoms of Wernicke encephalopathy can include confusion, abnormal eye movements, and unsteady …
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Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE)
Overview Chronic traumatic encephalopathy is a progressive neurodegenerative condition associated with a history of repeated head impacts, such as those from contact sports, involving the buildup of abnormal tau protein in the brain; a definitive diagnosis currently can only be confirmed through post-mortem examination. Signs and Symptoms Symptoms can include memory problems, difficulty with planning …
Mixed Dementia
Overview Mixed dementia refers to major or mild neurocognitive disorder resulting from more than one underlying cause occurring together, most commonly a combination of Alzheimer’s disease pathology and vascular brain changes. Signs and Symptoms Symptoms can reflect a combination of patterns seen in the contributing conditions, such as memory loss alongside stepwise changes in thinking …
Huntington’s Disease
Overview Huntington’s disease is an inherited neurodegenerative condition caused by a specific genetic mutation, leading to progressive movement, cognitive, and psychiatric symptoms, including major or mild neurocognitive disorder as the disease progresses. Signs and Symptoms Symptoms can include involuntary jerking movements (chorea), progressive difficulty with thinking and planning, and psychiatric symptoms such as depression, irritability, …
HIV-Associated Neurocognitive Disorder
Overview HIV-associated neurocognitive disorder, a form of major or mild neurocognitive disorder, occurs in the context of HIV infection and can range from mild cognitive changes to more significant impairment affecting daily functioning. Signs and Symptoms Symptoms can include slowed thinking, difficulty concentrating, memory difficulties, and, in more severe cases, changes in motor function or …
Traumatic Brain Injury-Related Neurocognitive Disorder
Overview Traumatic brain injury-related neurocognitive disorder, a form of major or mild neurocognitive disorder, develops following an impact to the head or other mechanism of traumatic brain injury, with cognitive symptoms persisting beyond the acute injury period. Signs and Symptoms Symptoms can include difficulty with attention and concentration, memory problems, slowed processing speed, and, in …
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Parkinson’s Disease Dementia
Overview Parkinson’s disease dementia, a form of major or mild neurocognitive disorder, develops in individuals with an established diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease, typically after years of predominantly motor symptoms. Signs and Symptoms Symptoms can include slowed thinking, difficulty with planning and attention, visual-spatial difficulties, and, in some cases, visual hallucinations, alongside existing motor symptoms. Experiencing …
Frontotemporal Dementia
Overview Frontotemporal dementia, a form of major or mild neurocognitive disorder, involves progressive degeneration of the frontal and/or temporal lobes of the brain, often presenting with early and prominent changes in personality, behavior, or language rather than memory. Signs and Symptoms Symptoms can include marked changes in personality or social behavior, apathy, loss of empathy, …
Vascular Dementia
Overview Vascular dementia, a form of major or mild neurocognitive disorder, results from reduced blood flow to the brain due to strokes or chronic small vessel disease, causing cognitive decline that often progresses in a stepwise pattern. Signs and Symptoms Symptoms can include difficulty with planning and organization, slowed thinking, memory difficulties, and physical symptoms …
Lewy Body Dementia
Overview Lewy body dementia, a form of major or mild neurocognitive disorder, involves the buildup of abnormal alpha-synuclein protein deposits called Lewy bodies in the brain, causing fluctuating cognition, visual hallucinations, and motor symptoms. Signs and Symptoms Symptoms can include fluctuating alertness and attention, recurrent visual hallucinations, movement symptoms similar to Parkinson’s disease, and sleep …