Fahr's disease presenting with dementia at onset: a case report and literature review

Behav Neurol. 2014:2014:750975. doi: 10.1155/2014/750975. Epub 2014 Mar 12.

Abstract

Fahr's disease (FD) is characterized by sporadic or familiar idiopathic calcification of the basal ganglia, dentate nuclei of the cerebellum, and centrum semiovale, mainly presenting with movement disorder, dementia, and behavioral abnormalities. We described a rare case of Fahr's disease presenting at onset only with behavioral and neuropsychological alterations, whose diagnosis was supposed only after a brain CT, which showed extensive bilateral calcifications in the dentate nuclei of the cerebellum and basal ganglia. Since the onset of Fahr's disease may be a dysexecutive syndrome with behavioral abnormalities, the clinical and radiological features are really important to do the appropriate diagnosis.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Basal Ganglia Diseases / complications*
  • Basal Ganglia Diseases / diagnostic imaging
  • Brain / diagnostic imaging*
  • Calcinosis / complications*
  • Calcinosis / diagnostic imaging
  • Dementia / diagnostic imaging
  • Dementia / etiology*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Neurodegenerative Diseases / complications*
  • Neurodegenerative Diseases / diagnostic imaging
  • Radiography