Early Signs of Pick's Disease

Pick's disease, also known as PiD, affects about 7 million people in the United States. It is a neurodegenerative disorder that causes irreversible damage, affecting a person's behavior and ability to function. The early symptoms of Pick's disease are often confused with other conditions such as Alzheimer's disease, depression, and mental illness.

Behavior Change

• Noticeable, drastic changes in behavior are associated with Pick's disease. Such changes include an inability to control impulses to acting out without thought or consideration of consequences. Some behavior changes to look for include obsessive-compulsiveness, rudeness, aggression, impatience, excessive alcohol consumption, disregarding personal hygiene, sexual promiscuity or exhibitionism, and withdrawal from others.

Changes in Language

• Gradual incoherence is a sign of Pick's disease, along with other changes in language. These changes include difficulty remembering words, a diminished vocabulary, echolalia (repeating what others say), weak speech sounds, muteness and decreased ability to write and read.

Emotional Differences

• As Pick's disease progresses, noticeable changes in emotion will become apparent. Though the severity of the changes depend on the stage of the disease, symptoms include lack of concern for others, indifference, becoming easily distracted, mood swings, lack of interest in activities one used to take part in daily and being unaware of the changes in one's emotional behavior.

Neurological Problems

• Since it is a condition that affects the nervous system, people with Pick's disease will exhibit neurological problems. Neurological symptoms to look for include weakness, urinary incontinence, muscle stiffness or rigidity, memory loss and lack of coordination.

Managing Symptoms

• Once a person is diagnosed with Pick's disease, there are measures that can be taken to manage the symptoms, but the damage that has occurred can't be reversed. Occupational therapy, medications, behavior modification and sensory aids are all commonly used to manage the symptoms of Pick's disease.