Table of Contents
Washington University Experience | NEURODEGENERATION | Alzheimer Disease | Gross Pathology | 4A0 Case 4 History
Case 4 History ---- The patient was a 69yo male with a history of prostate cancer, seizures and dementia. He was noted to have progressive memory loss as of age 61, however it appears that first symptoms of dementia and work-up began at age 58. He was initially noted to have deficits with short term memory, thought to be early Alzheimer type dementia. Over time, he progressed to have deficits of immediate recall, short and long term memory. At age 65, he required assistance with all ADLs. He had periodic myoclonic jerks, tremor L>R, visual field deficits L>R, and poor balance resulting in falling out of bed. Work-up at that time included EEG which showed moderate generalized slowing and diffuse right hemispheric slowing; MRI showing diffuse atrophy; and MRI PET demonstrated hypometabolism of the parietal (L&R), temporal (R>L) and occipital (R>L) lobes that was thought consistent with "Dementia with Lewy bodies". As of age 67, he developed hallucinations and agitation. In 2005 he had a positive Lyme test (IgG and IgM) as well as a history of tick bites as a young person. The immediate circumstances surrounding the patient's death were not available in the clinical record. ---- At autopsy the weight of the unfixed brain was 1160g.
