Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 14, 2026
15:12
Primary Neuronal Cultures from the Brains of Late Stage Drosophila Pupae
Published on: May 28, 2007
15.8K
A case of late-onset OCD developing PLS and FTD.
Enrica Bersano1, Maria Francesca Sarnelli2, Valentina Solara2
1a Department of Neurology , Eastern Piedmont University, "Maggiore della Carità" University Hospital , Novara , Italy.
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis & Frontotemporal Degeneration
|February 17, 2018
Summary
This case report details a rare instance of primary lateral sclerosis and frontotemporal dementia presenting with late-onset obsessive-compulsive disorder. The patient experienced progressive motor and cognitive decline, highlighting a unique neurological presentation.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Neuroscience
- Psychiatry
Background:
- Late-onset obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is uncommon, and its association with neurodegenerative diseases requires further investigation.
- Understanding the spectrum of neurodegenerative disorders is crucial for accurate diagnosis and management.
Observation:
- A 64-year-old woman developed late-onset OCD at age 57, followed by motor symptoms (dysarthria, dysphagia, weakness) and cognitive changes.
- Initial investigations revealed no active denervation but showed hippocampal atrophy and temporal cortex thinning on MRI and PET scans.
- Over four years, symptoms progressed, indicating severe frontotemporal atrophy and leading to a diagnosis of primary lateral sclerosis (PLS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD).
Findings:
- The patient presented with a unique combination of primary lateral sclerosis (PLS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD).
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) was a prominent early symptom, preceding significant motor and cognitive decline.
- Neuroimaging revealed progressive atrophy in the temporal and frontal lobes, correlating with clinical deterioration.
Implications:
- This case highlights a novel association between PLS, FTD, and early-onset OCD, expanding the known clinical presentations of these disorders.
- The findings suggest a potential overlap in the pathophysiology of OCD and FTD/PLS, warranting further research.
- This case underscores the importance of comprehensive neurological and psychiatric evaluations in patients with atypical symptom presentations.
Related Concept Videos
01:43Sustainable Development
15.2K
As the human population continues to grow and use resources, we must be mindful of our planet’s natural limits. Sustainable development provides a pathway to maintain and improve human life now while also ensuring that future generations will have the resources that they need. The long-term success of sustainability efforts rests on understanding the interplay between human actions and ecological systems.
15.2K
01:22Language Development
941
Children master language quickly and with relative ease, supported by both biological predisposition and reinforcement. B. F. Skinner (1957) proposed that language is learned through reinforcement, while Noam Chomsky (1965) argued that language acquisition mechanisms are biologically determined.
The critical period for language acquisition suggests that the ability to acquire language is at its peak early in life. As people age, this proficiency decreases. Language development begins very...
The critical period for language acquisition suggests that the ability to acquire language is at its peak early in life. As people age, this proficiency decreases. Language development begins very...
941
01:15Development of the Lymphatic System
2.2K
The development of lymphatic tissues and vessels in embryonic life begins around the fifth week. These structures originate from the mesoderm layer, with lymph sacs emerging from developing veins.
The first lymph sacs to form are the paired jugular lymph sacs located at the junction of the internal jugular and subclavian veins. From these sacs, lymphatic capillary plexuses extend to the thorax, upper limbs, neck, and head, eventually forming lymphatic vessels. Each jugular lymph sac maintains a...
The first lymph sacs to form are the paired jugular lymph sacs located at the junction of the internal jugular and subclavian veins. From these sacs, lymphatic capillary plexuses extend to the thorax, upper limbs, neck, and head, eventually forming lymphatic vessels. Each jugular lymph sac maintains a...
2.2K
01:22Development of Immunocompetence
1000
The initiation of cell-mediated immunity can be observed as early as the third month of fetal growth, with active antibody-mediated immunity following approximately one month later.
The initial cells that migrate from the fetal thymus settle within the skin and epithelial tissues lining the mouth, digestive tract, and in females, the uterus and vagina. These cells, including skin-based dendritic cells, serve as antigen-presenting cells, playing a key role in T cell activation.
Subsequent T...
The initial cells that migrate from the fetal thymus settle within the skin and epithelial tissues lining the mouth, digestive tract, and in females, the uterus and vagina. These cells, including skin-based dendritic cells, serve as antigen-presenting cells, playing a key role in T cell activation.
Subsequent T...
1000
01:27Development of the Heart
2.7K
The development of the human heart, a crucial organ, commences from the mesoderm on the 18th or 19th day after fertilization. This process initiates in the cardiogenic area, a group of mesodermal cells at the embryo's head end, which evolves into elongated strands known as cardiogenic cords. These cords undergo a transformation to form hollow-centered endocardial tubes.
As the embryo undergoes lateral folding, these paired tubes approach each other, merging into a single primitive heart...
As the embryo undergoes lateral folding, these paired tubes approach each other, merging into a single primitive heart...
2.7K
01:58Fruit Development, Structure, and Function
25.5K
Fruits form from a mature flower ovary. As seeds develop from the ovules contained within, the ovary wall undergoes a series of complex changes to form fruit. In some fruits, such as soybeans, the ovary wall dries; in other fruits, such as grapes, it remains fleshy. In some cases, organs other than the ovary contribute to fruit formation; such fruits are called accessory fruits.
25.5K