Binswanger's disease, sometimes referred to as subcortical dementia, is a rare form of dementia characterized by cerebrovascular lesions in the deep white-matter of the brain, loss of memory and cognition, and mood changes. Patients usually show signs of abnormal blood pressure, stroke, blood abnormalities, disease of the large blood vessels in the neck, and disease of the heart valves. Other prominent features of the disease include urinary incontinence, difficulty walking, clumsiness, slowness of conduct, lack of facial expression, and speech difficulty. These symptoms, which tend to begin after the age of 60, are not always present in all patients and may sometimes appear only as a passing phase.
Is there any treatment?
There is no specific course of treatment for Binswanger's disease. Treatment is symptomatic, often involving the use of medications to control high blood pressure, depression, heart arrhythmias and low blood pressure.
What is the prognosis?
Binswanger's disease is a slowly progressive condition for which there is no cure. The disorder is often marked by strokes and partial recovery.
What research is being done?
The NINDS conducts and supports a wide range of research on dementing disorders, and scientists are currently re-evaluating the definitions for certain dementias, including Binswanger's disease/subcortical dementia. The goals of research are to improve the diagnosis of dementias and to find ways to treat and prevent them. The National Institute on Aging and the National Institute of Mental Health also support research related to the dementias.
Organizations
Alzheimer's Disease Education and Referral Center (ADEAR)
P.O. Box 8250
Silver Spring, MD 20907-8250
www.nia.nih.gov/Alzheimers/ContactUs.htm
www.nia.nih.gov/alzheimers
Tel: 301.495.3311 800.438.4380
Fax: 301.495.3334
Alzheimer's Association
919 North Michigan Avenue Suite 1100
Chicago, IL 60611-1676
email: info@alz.org
www.alz.org
Tel: 312.335.8700 or 800.272.3900
Fax: 312.335.1110
American Heart Association
7272 Greenville Avenue
Dallas, TX 75231-4596
www.americanheart.org
Tel: 800.AHA.USA1 (242.8721) or 214.373.6300
Fax: 214.369.3685
Family Caregiver Alliance
690 Market Street Suite 600
San Francisco, CA 94104
email: info@caregiver.org
www.caregiver.org
Tel: 415.434.3388 or 800.445.8106
Fax: 415.434.3508
National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD)
P.O. Box 1968
(55 Kenosia Avenue)
Danbury, CT 06813-1968
email: orphan@rarediseases.org
www.rarediseases.org
Tel: 203.744.0100 Voice Mail 800.999.NORD (6673)
Fax: 203.798.2291
National Stroke Association
9707 East Easter Lane
Englewood, CO 80112-3747
email: info@stroke.org
www.stroke.org
Tel: 303.649.9299 or 800.STROKES (787.6537)
Fax: 303.649.1328
Source: National Institutes of Health; National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
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This information is provided by the Cleveland Clinic and is not intended to replace the medical advice of your doctor or health care provider. Please consult your health care provider for advice about a specific medical condition. This document was last reviewed on: 4/25/2007...#6016
