Binswanger's Disease

Binswanger's Disease(BD) is an extremely rare form of dementia characterized by cerebrovascular lesions in the deep white-matter of the brain, loss of memory and cognition, and mood changes. Individuals with BD may also have abnormal blood pressure, stroke, blood abnormalities, disease of the large blood vessels in the neck, and disease of the heart valves. Other symptoms include urinary incontinence, difficulty walking, parkinsonian-like tremors, depression and seizures. The symptoms, which tend to begin after the age of 60, are not always present and may appear only as a passing phase.

• Binswanger's Disease - fact sheet by the Cleveland Clinic
• Binswanger's Disease? - fact sheet by CRIS
• NINDS Binswanger's Disease Information Page - produced by National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
• Senile Dementia of the Binswanger's Type - American Family Physician December 1998

Corticobasal Degeneration

A progressive neurological disorder characterized by nerve cell loss and atrophy of multiple areas of the brain including the cerebral cortex and the basal ganglia. Symptoms include signs of parkinsonism such as poor coordination, impaired balance, absence of movements, rigidity and limb dystonia (abnormal muscle postures). Other symptoms that may be present are: cognitive and visual-spatial impairments, hesitant and halting speech, inability to make familiar, purposeful movements, uncontrollable muscle contractions, difficulty swallowing. The individual will be unable to walk. Symptoms usually begin at around 60 years on one side of the body. As the disease slowly progresses, both sides will be affected.

• Corticobasal Degeneration - produced by The Association for Frontotemporal Dementias
• Corticobasal Degeneration - produced by Memory & Aging Center, University of California, San Francisco
• NINDS Corticobasal Degeneration Information Page - produced by National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome

Long-term alcoholism may result in Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome. Early symptoms include confusion, irregular eye movement and an unsteady gait (Wernicke Syndrome). It often evolves into an inability to remember new information or recent events (Korsakoff Syndrome).

• Alcohol-related brain damage: Wernicke’s encephalopathy and Korsakoff’s psychosis - fact sheet by Alzheimer Scotland
• NINDS Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome Information Page - produced by National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
• Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome - produced by Alcohol Concern, London, UK
• Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome - fact sheet by Family Caregiver Alliance
• Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome - emedicine journal vol 2 # 7, 5 July 2001
• Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome - Medical Encyclopedia. Medlineplus Health Information
• What is Korsakoff’s Syndrome? - fact sheet by Alzheimer's Society (UK)
• What is Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome? - produced by Health-Cares.Net

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