Precipitous Deterioration of Motor Function, Cognition, and Behavior

JAMA Neurol. 2017 May 1;74(5):591-596. doi: 10.1001/jamaneurol.2016.6159.

Abstract

A 72-year-old woman developed new-onset depression, sustained an unexplained fall, and started walking cautiously. After 1 year, her depression resolved but she developed a dry cough. One year later, she experienced a more rapid decline in her gait with parkinsonism, visual difficulties with restricted vertical gaze, slowed horizontal and vertical saccades, dysphagia, apathy, and progressive cognitive decline, which led to her death 2 years later. The differential diagnosis, neuroimaging, and pathological findings are discussed, as well as their public health implications.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Creutzfeldt-Jakob Syndrome / diagnosis*
  • Creutzfeldt-Jakob Syndrome / physiopathology
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Fatal Outcome
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Prion Proteins / analysis*

Substances

  • Prion Proteins