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Pick Disease

Chetna Dengri, MD Reviewed 05/2023
 


BASICS

DESCRIPTION

  • A type of progressive frontotemporal dementia (FTD) typically affecting the frontal and/or anterolateral temporal lobes

  • Named after Dr. Arnold Pick, who identified the neuronal inclus...

DIAGNOSIS

Diagnostic Criteria: 
Behavioral variant (bv): 
  • Possible bvFTD requires 3 of 6 of the following features: disinhibition, apathy/inertia, loss of sympathy/empathy, perseverative/compulsive beha...

TREATMENT

No curative or disease modifying treatments available. 

GENERAL MEASURES

  • Treatment is focused on symptom management along with providing support to patient, family, and caregivers.

  • Consider cha...

ONGOING CARE

FOLLOW-UP RECOMMENDATIONS

Periodic follow-up care to address behavioral problems, reevaluate the diagnosis if questionable, tailor pharmacologic treatments, and provide caregiver support. 

Patient Monitoring

REFERENCES

1
Graham  A, Hodges  J. Frontotemporal dementia. Psych.  2008;7(1):24–28. [View Abstract on OvidMedline]
2
Forman  MS, F...

ADDITIONAL READING

Cardarelli R, Kertesz A, Knebl J, et al. Frontotemporal Dementia: A Review for Primary Care Physicians. Am Fam Physician. 2010;82(11):1372-1377.  

CODES

ICD10

  • G31.01 Pick’s disease

  • G31.09 Other frontotemporal dementia

SNOMED

  • 13092008 Pick’s disease

  • 230270009 Frontotemporal dementia

  • 21921000119103 Dementia due to Pick’s disease

  • 230288001 Semantic dement...

CLINICAL PEARLS

  • When dementia occurs early (in midlife), especially if associated with personality and behavioral changes, consider Pick disease.

  • Cognitive screening tests are not sensitive for diagnos...

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