The journey through Pick's Disease with a loved one: a personal account.

BACKGROUND

The aim of this short communication is to share my personal experience of caring for a terminally ill family member who was afflicted with Pick's disease. I tell my story in the hope of increasing society's awareness on this little known but devastating disease and assisting those who might be facing a similar situation. Pick's disease is a rare and incurable type of dementia that is associated with atrophy of the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain over time as a result of accumulation of tau protein fibres known as Pick's bodies. The exact cause is not known, but genetic predisposition is implicated in some disease cases. Pick's disease tends to affect men and women alike. It affects thinking, language and problem solving.

METHODS

Data supporting this document were obtained from a thorough review of the literature and Internet search on Pick's disease, as well as from a personal experience with Pick's disease as it was unfolding.

RESULTS

Clinical features, diagnosis and treatment, and stages of the disease are presented.

CONCLUSION

Very little is known about Pick's disease. Additional research is needed to inform practice about tau protein dementias.