Articles » NINDS Binswanger's Disease Information Page: NINDS

NINDS Binswanger's Disease Information Page: NINDS

Article title: NINDS Binswanger's Disease Information Page: NINDS

Conditions: Binswanger's Disease

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What is Binswanger's Disease?
Binswanger's disease is a rare form of dementia characterized by cerebrovascular lesions in the deep white-matter of the brain, loss of memory and cognition, and mood changes. 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. Other prominent features of the disease include urinary incontinence, difficulty walking, clumsiness, slowness of conduct, lack of facial expression, and speech difficulties. These symptoms, which tend to begin after the age of 60, are not always present in all patients and may sometimes appear only as a passing phase. Seizures may also be present.

Is there any treatment?
There is no specific course of treatment for Binswanger's disease. Treatment is symptomatic, often involving the use of medications to control high blood pressure, depression, heart arrhythmias and low blood pressure.

What is the prognosis?
Binswanger's disease is a slowly progressive condition for which there is no cure. The disorder is often marked by strokes and partial recovery. Patients with this disorder usually die within 5 years after its onset.

What research is being done?
The NINDS conducts and supports a wide range of research on dementing disorders, including dementias of old age such as Binswanger's disease. The goals of this research are to improve the diagnosis of dementias and to find ways to treat and prevent them. The National Institute on Aging and the National Institute of Mental Health also support research related to the dementias.

 Organizations

Alzheimer's Disease Education and Referral Center (ADEAR)
P.O. Box 8250
Silver Spring, MD 20907-8250
adear@alzheimers.org
http://www.alzheimers.org/
Tel: 301-495-3311 800-438-4380
Fax: 301-495-3334

Alzheimer's Association
919 North Michigan Avenue
Suite 1100
Chicago, IL 60611-1676
info@alz.org
http://www.alz.org/
Tel: 312-335-8700 800-272-3900
Fax: 312-335-1110

American Heart Association
7272 Greenville Avenue
Dallas, TX 75231-4596
http://www.americanheart.org/
Tel: 800-AHA-USA1 (242-8721)
Fax: 214-369-3685

National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD)
P.O. Box 8923
(100 Route 37)
New Fairfield, CT 06812-8923
orphan@rarediseases.org
http://www.rarediseases.org/
Tel: 203-746-6518 800-999-NORD (6673)
Fax: 203-746-6481

National Stroke Association
9707 East Easter Lane
Englewood, CO 80112-3747
info@stroke.org
http://www.stroke.org/
Tel: 303-649-9299 800-STROKES (787-6537)
Fax: 303-649-1328

This fact sheet is in the public domain. You may copy it.Provided by:
The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
National Institutes of Health
Bethesda, MD 20892



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