Corticobasal degeneration

Corticobasal degeneration (CBD) is a severe brain disorder that gradually affects your ability to walk and communicate. Initially, it shows symptoms similar to Parkinson's disease. In many cases, genetic mutations are responsible for causing corticobasal degeneration.

Unfortunately, there are currently no treatments available to halt corticobasal degeneration’s progression. However, therapies like speech therapy, physical therapy and occupational therapy can assist in better symptom management.

What is corticobasal degeneration?

The cerebral cortex is crucial for memory, learning, senses and voluntary movements, while the basal ganglia are nerve cells essential for motor functions like walking and talking, as well as learning.

Initially, symptoms appear on one side of the body. As the disease advances over time, you may experience difficulties with swallowing, movement and speech.

While research doesn’t point to a specific cause of corticobasal degeneration, they know that it is the result of damage caused by a buildup of the protein tau. Genetics also plays a factor in the development of corticobasal degeneration.

Symptoms of corticobasal degeneration 

Symptoms of corticobasal degeneration vary from person to person. Typically, they become noticeable around your 60s if you have corticobasal degeneration, though some people may show signs in their 40s.

As the disease advances, symptoms often worsen and impact both movement and thinking skills. Common symptoms of corticobasal degeneration, or corticobasal syndrome, include:

• Changes in speech, such as slurred speech or trouble forming words.
• Cognitive issues like memory loss, difficulty solving problems, and confusion.
• Difficulty with movement and coordination, like stiffness, rigidity, and jerky movements.
• Loss of sensation or tingling in limbs.
• Muscle spasms or involuntary movements.
• Muscle weakness, especially on one side of the body.
• Problems with balance and walking, which can lead to falls.
• Tremors like those in Parkinson's disease but often more irregular.

These symptoms can vary in how they affect each person and may worsen as the disease progresses.

Conditions that have similar symptoms

Symptoms of corticobasal degeneration mirror those of other neurological conditions, including:

• Alzheimer’s disease
• Brain cancer
• Dementia
• Multiple system atrophy
• Parkinson’s disease
• Progressive supranuclear palsy
• Stroke

Diagnosing corticobasal degeneration

To diagnose corticobasal degeneration, your doctor will conduct a medical examination, assess your symptoms and inquire about your medical history. While a gene mutation is a risk factor for corticobasal degeneration, genetic testing cannot predict or detect it.

Other tests your doctor might conduct include:

• Blood tests
• Imaging tests like MRI or CT scans
• Neurophysiological tests to evaluate memory, speech, motor skills, and cognition
• Spinal tap (lumbar puncture)

Management and treatment for corticobasal degeneration

Since there is no cure or treatment to slow the progression of corticobasal degeneration, the focus is on therapies to manage difficulties of the disease.

At times, a combination of antidepressants and antiseizure medications may be used to help with mood changes and muscle spasms.

In most cases, your doctor will recommend physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy to help with mobility, muscle weakness, communication and swallowing.

Palliative care may be recommended. The goal of palliative care is to provide relief from the symptoms of a serious illness and can be performed in the comfort of your home.