[Early onset dementias: three cases].
BACKGROUND
Dementia is a decline of intellectual abilities. The etiology of dementia syndrome is diverse. The authors describe three patients with early-onset dementia.


METHODS
The first patient was a 44 years old male with mild gait, body ataxia, memory loss, slowness and apathy Investigations proved AIDS dementia syndrome. In the second case of a 37 years old female patient, herpes simplex encephalitis was suspected due to sudden onset of speech arrest and to brain MRI and CSF findings. Her symptoms improved during antiviral treatment but later progressive dementia developed. CSF serological tests proved the presence of neurolues-dementia paralytica. The third patient was a 38-years-old female. Neurological examination was performed because of progressive memory loss, changed behaviour and impaired attention. Neuropsychological test showed severe dementia. Metachromatic leukodystrophy was proven by decreased arylsulfatase activity.


CONCLUSIONS
It is not easy to recognize the early symptoms of dementia. In these cases, besides detailed history, neurological examination and neuropsychological tests, brain MRI and cerebral spinal fluid serological tests were indispensable for a correct diagnosis, especially in the young patients.
Merkli
Hajnalka
H
Pécsi Tudományegyetem, Altalános Orvostudományi Kar, Neurológiai Klinika, Pécs.
Pál
Endre
E
Gáti
István
I
Kosztolányi
Péter
P
Kövér
Ferenc
F
D015526:AIDS Dementia Complex / Q000175:diagnosis*; D000328:Adult; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D001259:Ataxia / Q000209:etiology; D003704:Dementia / Q000209:etiology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000821:virology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D020803:Encephalitis, Herpes Simplex / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D007966:Leukodystrophy, Metachromatic / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D009494:Neurosyphilis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D010243:Paralysis / Q000209:etiology; D014210:Treponema pallidum / Q000276:immunology
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial