Pick's dementia, also known as Pick's disease or frontotemporal dementia, is a rare neurological disorder that affects the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain. These areas of the brain are important for comprehension, language and decision making. Patients can develop a number of behavioral changes, including an inability to act appropriately in social settings and impulsive behavior. These symptoms can lead to an inability to hold a job, withdrawal from social situations and a decrease in personal hygiene. Pick's dementia is extremely difficult to treat, and supportive care may be the only option.
Treatment Limitations
Pick's disease is marked by the appearance of microscopic brain lesion known as Pick bodies, Medline Plus explains, which are made up of a protein called tau. Because Pick's dementia is caused by abnormal protein deposits, there is no cure for this disease. Treatments for Pick's dementia are thus limited to slowing the progression of the disease or relieving the symptoms.
Antidepressants
Antidepressants can relieve some of the symptoms of Pick's dementia. One class of medications, known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors can help relieve some of the apathy or depression that is associated with Pick's dementia, the University of California, San Francisco explains. These medications may also be useful for compulsive behavior and loss of impulse control. Studies that have examined the effects of these medications, however, have shown mixed results, the Mayo Clinic explains.
Antipsychotics
Antipsychotics can also be used to treat Pick's dementia. These medications are effective at relieving delusions and hallucinations that can accompany the dementia and can also reduce aggression. Patients must use these medications with care, however, as some antipsychotics can cause motor problems in patients with Pick's dementia, the Penn Medicine Center for Frontotemporal Dementia explains. These side effects may linger even after the medication is stopped.
Therapy
Patients with Pick's dementia can also benefit from therapy, which helps them deal with the cognitive limitations caused by the disease. Therapists treat behavioral problems by rewarding patients for engaging in socially appropriate behavior and for maintaining personal hygiene and other life skills that often decline as a result of Pick's dementia. Speech and occupational therapy can also help patients compensate for their impaired ability to use and understand language and can help them explore other methods of communication, Help Guide explains.
Supportive Care
Early in the course of their disease, patients with Pick's dementia have trouble performing complex tasks such as paying bills, shopping, driving and managing their medications, which means that they require help from caregivers. Ultimately, these patients may be unable to engage in basic aspects of self-care such as preparing and consuming food and other functions, the University of California, San Francisco explains, and will require more attentive care. In such cases, patients may need to be placed in a nursing home or another facility at which round-the-clock care is possible.
