Binswanger disease, a type of vascular dementia, is characterized by atherosclerosis of blood vessels supplying the deep white matter of the brain. Hypertension, being the principal risk factor, is universally present, and a variable degree of cognitive impairment, gait disturbances and other neurological deficits are encountered in patients. A thorough physical examination and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain are necessary to make the diagnosis.
Presentation
Binswanger disease (BD) is a distinct form of vascular dementia in which atherosclerosis and hypertension affecting the smaller blood vessels in the white matter cause a slowly progressive ischemia of the subcortical areas of the brain[1] [2] [3]. Hypertensive vascular disease is, by far, the single most important risk factor for the development of BD, and many individuals report prior episodes of stroke or transient ischemic attacks (TIAs), whereas diabetes mellitus, pre-diabetic states, cigarette smoking, hyperlipidemia and sleep apnea are mentioned in certain reports as well [1] [4]. Progressive reduction of blood flow through these areas explains the gradual course of BD, and the initial symptoms are related to alterations in cognitive status - decline in executive functions, reduction in the speed of processing information and memory dysfunction [1] [2] [5] [6]. Moreover, deficits in attention, behavioral changes and emotional lability are clinical hallmarks of BD and other forms of dementia [3] [5]. In addition, focal neurological deficits are commonly observed, most prominent being those involving the upper motor neurons (UMNs) - muscle rigidity, hyperreflexia (often asymmetric), signs of parkinsonism, ataxia and gait disturbances [1] [2] [3] [6]. Urinary incontinence is reported in many individuals as well [4] [6].
Entire Body System
- Progressive Dementia
The other 15 patients had neurologic deficits that presented in one of three ways: (1) stroke, seven patients; (2) slowly progressive dementia and gait disturbance, five patients; or (3) slowly progressive dementia alone, three patients. [jamanetwork.com]
The main clinical manifestations of progressive dementia. 【clinical points] 1. 2/3. chronic disease, and 1/3 for the acute onset. [e.uuuwell.com]
Intermittent and fluctuating neurological signs - often appearing at intervals of several years - as well as a slowly progressing dementia, can be a clinical indication of SAE, especially in patients who have been known to suffer from hypertension for [thieme-connect.com]
Lewy Body Dementia Lewy body dementia (LBD) is one of the most common types of progressive dementia. Symptoms of Lewy body dementia overlap with those of other diseases, making it hard to diagnose. [alzheimersweekly.com]
Definition Binswanger disease is a rare form of progressive dementia that develops after age 60 and involves degeneration of the brain's white matter. [encyclopedia.com]
- Lower Extremity Pain
As the disease progresses, especially in case of complications, the symptoms gradually increased and obvious, such as fingers numb and stiff lower extremity pain, walking, or the back of the neck muscle soreness tension. [e.uuuwell.com]
Psychiatrical
- Euphoria
Patients may become emotionally labile and unpredictable, demonstrating euphoria or aggression. Severe depression occurs in 20 percent of cases, and suicide attempts have been reported. [aafp.org]
- Loss of Attention
Symptoms of Binswanger disease include short-term memory loss, short attention span, inappropriate behaviors, inability to make decisions, change in mood and personality, an unsteady gait, clumsiness or frequent falls and a decrease in organizational [theadvocate.com]
Neurologic
- Stroke
So, the stroke can be roughly divided into two categories, ischemic stroke and hemorrhagic stroke. 3.1 ischemic stroke ischemic stroke accounted for 60% -70% of the total number of patients with stroke, including cerebral thrombosis and cerebral embolism [e.uuuwell.com]
Gain fresh perspectives and up-to-date insights from the world’s leading authorities on the pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management of stroke. [books.google.de]
Strokes take place when the supply of blood carrying oxygen to the brain is suddenly cut off. However, not all people with stroke will develop vascular dementia. Vascular dementia can occur over time as "silent" strokes pile up. [webmd.com]
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. [ucl.ac.uk]
The clinical picture in 11 patients was characterized by: (1) persistent hypertension and systemic vascular disease; (2) acute strokes; (3) subacute accumulation of focal neurologic symptoms and signs over weeks to months; (4) long plateau periods; (5 [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
- Cognitive Impairment
We also examined the indices of cognitive impairment and brain atrophy. In each group, the ventricular area-cranial space area ratio was measured by an image analyzer. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
Overview Subcortical vascular cognitive impairment, characterized by subcortical and executive cognitive dysfunction, is now recognized to be the most common form of vascular cognitive impairment. [medlink.com]
VCI, vascular cognitive impairment, not yet dementia. [academic.oup.com]
Therefore, elucidating the distinctively impaired patterns of brain structures in BD and AD will help to identify the pathological substrates of cognitive impairments. [journals.plos.org]
- Seizure
Abnormal electrical disturbances in the brain may cause seizures. Binswanger's symptoms may be elusive in both appearance and degree. [encyclopedia.com]
[…] dementia and was first described in 1894.The illness occurs mainly in middle-aged hypertensive patients who show evidence of systematic vascular disease and who develop insidious fluctuating dementia with special involvement of memory, mood and cognition; seizures [alzheimer-europe.org]
Seizures may also be present. [ucl.ac.uk]
Clinton suffers from “Dementia, Seizures and Black-outs.” In fact, the Doctor made note that Clinton’s conditions are “considerably worse” than in 2013. [globalresearch.ca]
(petit mal seizure) generalized seizure characterized by abrupt cessation of ongoing activity with a blank stare and lost or impaired consciousness lasting on average 10-20 seconds abulia loss of will, impulse, and decision-making ability acalculia " [strokecenter.org]
- Apathy
Patients with this disease usually present with apathy, agitation, and bilateral corticospinal or bulbar signs Tags: binswanger', s-disease, subcortical-dementia, white-matter-atrophy 1000 chars left No comments found. [medicalvideos.com]
Other symptoms include forgetfulness (but not as severe as the forgetfulness of Alzheimer's disease), changes in speech, an unsteady gait, clumsiness or frequent falls, changes in personality or mood (most likely in the form of apathy, irritability, and [ninds.nih.gov]
The condition can be alleviated, and repeated exacerbations. 2. mainly clinical slowly progressive dementia, memory, cognitive dysfunction, emotional, and personality changes, apathy, delusions, the mildly neurotic disorders. 3. recurrent focal symptoms [e.uuuwell.com]
Synonyms Subacute arteriosclerotic encephalopathy Symptoms and course forgetfulness disorientation slowness of thought apathy lack of emotion depression aggression mild intellectual impairment (difficulties to think or reason) language difficulties problems [alzheimer-europe.org]
Depending on where the lesion is located, there could be apathy or other behavioral changes instead. There could also be Parkinson-like changes, like facial weakness and arm drift. [randombio.com]
- Agitation
Patients with this disease usually present with apathy, agitation, and bilateral corticospinal or bulbar signs Tags: binswanger', s-disease, subcortical-dementia, white-matter-atrophy 1000 chars left No comments found. [medicalvideos.com]
Atypical antipsychotic drugs, such as risperidone and olanzapine, can be useful in individuals with agitation and disruptive behavior. [ninds.nih.gov]
Anti-psychotic drugs are often administered for individuals experiencing high agitation levels or disruptive behaviors. The drug memantine has been shown to stabilize functioning. [theadvocate.com]
The people with depression require antidepressant medication because it consist of serotonin-specific reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) sertraline The drugs antipsychotic like risperidone and olanzapine can be helpful with agitation and disruptive behavior. [depression-guide.com]
Urogenital
- Urinary Incontinence
[…] the cardiovascular system Arteriosclerosis of small cerebral arteries Abnormality of the genitourinary system Urinary incontinence Abnormality of the integument Alopecia Abnormality of the nervous system Arteriosclerosis of small cerebral arteries Ataxia [familydiagnosis.com]
Clinically, Lacunar Dementia presents with gait difficulties, urinary incontinence, parkinsonian features, pseudobulbar palsy, emotional incontinence and dementia. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
Symptoms include depression, muscle rigidity, difficulties walking and urinary incontinence. There is no cure for the condition. [sciencephoto.com]
Urinary incontinence is reported in many individuals as well. To diagnose BD, a detailed patient history is the first step in the workup. The course and progression of symptoms are noted in the history. [symptoma.com]
- Polyuria
Heart appeared flustered, shortness of breath, chest tightness, chest pain that involvement appears nighttime urinary frequency, polyuria, urine light show that renal involvement, renal artery hardening. [e.uuuwell.com]
Workup
To diagnose BD, a detailed patient history is the first step in the workup. The course and progression of symptoms are noted in the history. If patients give unreliable data regarding their illness, a heterogeneous anamnesis from either family members of close friends can be highly useful in obtaining an objective view about the condition of the patient. History of cardiovascular disease and the presence of additional risk factors and comorbidities is integral in order to make a presumptive diagnosis. The second step is a meticulous physical examination, with an emphasis on cognitive assessment and neurological examination, both equally important procedures when there is a clinical suspicion of any type of dementia. The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MOCA), preferred over the mini-mental status examination (MMSE) is recommended for evaluation of cognitive function [1] [7]. Once valid clinical criteria for dementia are noted, the diagnosis of BD can be confirmed with imaging studies, especially magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) [1] [2] [3] [5] [7]. One of the most important features of BD on MRI are 5-10 mm lacunar infarcts, principally located in the brain stem and the majority of the white matter with signs of atrophy [1] [4]. Together with lacunar infarcts, hyperintensity of the white matter (known as leukoaraiosis), usually in the periventricular space, is diagnostic for BD [1] [4] [6]. In addition to MRI, computed tomography (CT) can also identify leukoaraiosis, and is preferred over MRI in certain circumstances [1] [4] [6].
Biopsy
- Foam Cell
[…] added damaged intima, there intimal hyperplasia, aggregation fatty esters, and become foam cells, and then death produce extracellular deposition of cholesterol in the intima and the formation of plaques. [e.uuuwell.com]
Treatment
In 1 out of these 4 patients, treatment with sodium ozagrel, an antiplatelet drug was applied, but was ineffective. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
Because there is no cure, the best treatment is preventive, early in the adult years, by controlling risk factors such as hypertension, diabetes, and smoking. × Treatment There is no specific course of treatment for BD. Treatment is symptomatic. [ninds.nih.gov]
There are very less treatments are available on binswanger's disease but the best treatment is prevention. The medication control high blood pressure, heart arrhythmias, stroke risk, high cholesterol and antidepressant medications. [depression-guide.com]
[…] disorders across the lifespan (pediatric, adult, and geriatric populations) Includes interventions and methods of treatment for the outcomes patients may experience [books.google.de]
Is there any treatment for Binswanger's disease? There is no specific course of treatment for Binswanger's disease. Treatment is symptomatic. [rxlist.com]
Prognosis
Prognosis BD is a progressive disease; there is no cure. Changes may be sudden or gradual and then progress in a stepwise manner. BD can often coexist with Alzheimer's disease. [ninds.nih.gov]
Prognosis for People With Vascular Dementia If the conditions that cause vascular dementia go untreated, the prognosis is not good. [webmd.com]
Prognosis for People With Binswanger's Disease Binswanger's disease is a slowly progressive condition for which there is no cure. Changes may be sudden or gradual and then progress in a stepwise manner. [alzheimers.emedtv.com]
Treatment and Prognosis There is no cure for Binswanger's Disease. However, taking good care of your heart and your brain can delay or slow the progression of the cognitive decline. Who Was Dr. Binswanger? Dr. [verywell.com]
Prognosis of Binswanger's Disease It is slowly improving condition in which there is a less possibility of to cure the disease. The persons die within the 5 year. Some drugs are used to cure high and low blood pressure, depression. [depression-guide.com]
Etiology
The etiology is considered to be vascular and to represent a special course of arteriosclerosis. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
Hypertension might be the sole etiologic factor, a necessary but not the only causative agent, or a contributing but non-requisite element. 60 patients with clinical and computed tomographic (CT) features of subcortical arteriosclerotic encephalopathy [medigoo.com]
Due to their vascular etiology, the symptoms and physical findings associated with Binswanger disease may suddenly worsen due to stroke, stabilize and then improve for a brief time, but the patient's overall condition continues to progress as the blood [rarediseases.org]
Epidemiology
"Blood Pressure" [SH] (epidemiology AND humans) [SH] SI Secondary Source ID The SI field identifies secondary source databanks and accession numbers, e.g., GenBank, GEO, PubChem, ClinicalTrials.gov, ISRCTN. [biomedsearch.com]
Epidemiology of Binswanger’s Disease Binswanger’s disease affects both males and females equally. It is commonly seen in individuals above 50 years of age. [epainassist.com]
Family history of stroke or cardiovascular disease Epidemiology VaD is the second most common form of dementia in the West after Alzheimer's disease. It is the most common form in some parts of Asia. Incidence increases with age. [patient.info]
Cerebrovascular Diseases 45(5-6) 258-262 2018年 [査読有り] Linking atrial fibrillation with Alzheimer's disease: Epidemiological, pathological, and mechanistic evidence Ihara M, Washida K. [researchmap.jp]
[…] record: 3301 elderly participants in the Cardiovascular Health Study (CHS). 1 In these times of budget reduction, the CHS may become—along with the Framingham study—a lasting monument to the scientific and public health benefits of the type of mega-scale epidemiological [stroke.ahajournals.org]
Pathophysiology
Gain fresh perspectives and up-to-date insights from the world’s leading authorities on the pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management of stroke. [books.google.de]
NPH and BD share the major part of symptoms and MRI changes, indicating a common pathophysiological pattern, and we raise the question of how to treat BD patients. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
The detailed section on pathophysiology will enhance clinicians' understanding of this complex disorder. Finally there is a section on pharmacological and neuropsychological treatment of cognitive and psychiatric symptoms. [books.google.es]
Pathophysiological processes in the postinsult period are manifested by further damage to the blood-brain barrier, microcirculatory disturbances, changes in immunoreactivity, depletion of the antioxidant defense system, progression of endothelial dysfunction [iliveok.com]
Stroke: Pathophysiology, Diagnosis, and Management. New York, NY: Churchill Livingstone Inc; 1986:475-496. Google Scholar 37 Cervós-Navarro J, Matakas F, Roggendorf W, Christmann U. The morphology of spastic intracerebral arterioles. [stroke.ahajournals.org]
Prevention
[…] of Binswanger's Disease The binswanger's disease is not curable but we can prevent it by preventing following methods Eating a healthy diet. [depression-guide.com]
Stay up to date on hot topics such as mechanisms of action of commonly used drugs, neuronal angiogenesis and stem cells, basic mechanisms of spasm and hemorrhage, prevention of stroke, genetics/predisposing risk factors, and much more. [books.google.de]
Nonetheless, diagnosis provides important knowledge and the opportunity to prevent further damage. Prevention typically involves bringing high blood pressure under control through exercise, diet, and medication. [webmd.com]
Because there is no cure, the best treatment is preventive, early in the adult years, by controlling risk factors such as hypertension, diabetes, and smoking. [ninds.nih.gov]
References
- Huisa BN, Rosenberg GA. Binswanger’s disease: Diagnosis and Management. Expert Rev Neurother. 2014;14(10):1203-1213.
- Huisa BN, Caprihan A, Thompson J, et al. Long-Term Blood-Brain Barrier Permeability Changes in Binswanger’s Disease. Stroke; a journal of cerebral circulation. 2015;46(9):2413-2418.
- Kovács T, Szirmai I, Papp M. Clinico-pathology and differential diagnosis of Binswanger's disease [Article in Hungarian]. Ideggyogy Sz. 2005;58(3-4):78-87.
- Porter RS, Kaplan JL. Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy. 19th Edition. Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp. Whitehouse Station, N.J; 2011.
- Akiguchi I, Budka H, Shirakashi Y, et al. MRI features of Binswanger’s disease predict prognosis and associated pathology. Annals of Clinical and Translational Neurology. 2014;1(10):813-821.
- Bennett DA, Wilson RS, Gilley DW, Fox JH. Clinical diagnosis of Binswanger's disease. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 1990;53:961-965.
- Moretti R, Torre P, Antonello RM, Manganaro D, Vilotti C, Pizzolato G. Risk factors for vascular dementia: Hypotension as a key point. Vasc Health Risk Manag. 2008;4(2):395-402.