Table of Contents
Washington University Experience | NEURODEGENERATION | Globular Glial Tauopathy (GGT) | 1A0 Case 1 History
Case 1 History ---- At age 87 the patient developed significant problems with memory, particularly names, symptoms which worsened over the time until her death at 93. She initially was given a diagnosis of CDR 0.5 for mild Dementia of Alzheimer type (DAT). She showed signs of cogwheel rigidity and symmetric reflexes suggestive of Parkinsonism but Parkinson disease never became substantive. She had incontinence, both bowel and bladder. Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus (NPH) and mild dementia of the Alzheimer’s type were thought to be the most likely causes of her cognitive deficits, she was rated CDR 1 at age 89. Over the next four years there had been gradual deterioration in short-term memory, new learning, organizational skills, and understanding situations or information on TV. She noted a more rapid decline over the last year. There were no reports of Parkinson’s disease, depression, hallucinations or psychotic symptoms. At 91 she had a questionable stroke/TIA but was unproven. In January 2015, hospice care was initiated related to inanition, significant weight loss, cognitive decline, and aphasia but the patient died shortly thereafter from aspiration pneumonia. Thus, this 93-year-old patient showed approximately a 10-year course of gradual and progressively deteriorating memory loss, language deficits, and behavior symptoms thought characteristic for Alzheimer’s disease. Her situation was complicated by development of a fractured femur after a serious fall and subsequent hospitalization. She progressed to needing total care and eventually developed aspiration pneumonia and died. ---- At autopsy, the unfixed brain weighed 950g.
