Diagnosis

Diagnosing corticobasal degeneration can be hard. The collection of symptoms that it causes is called corticobasal syndrome (CBS). CBS can result from corticobasal degeneration or from other conditions, including progressive supranuclear palsy, Alzheimer’s disease, Pick’s disease or Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.

The only way to confirm that corticobasal degeneration is the cause of corticobasal syndrome is by examining brain tissue after death. During life, the diagnosis is based on symptoms, imaging tests and expert evaluation to rule out other conditions.

During exams, care team members will discuss your symptoms and test the function of your nervous system. They may look at how you move, swallow, speak, solve problems or make decisions.

Other tests can offer other clues but may not confirm the difference between CBD and similar conditions. More research is needed to improve testing options. Current testing options may include:

MRI and CT scans

MRI and CT scans can show shrinking in the brain. Also, they can help rule out other conditions such as stroke. Sometimes, these tests are performed every few months to look for changes in the brain.

Positron emission tomography (PET) scans

PET scans can show brain changes related to CBD. During PET scans, a safe, radioactive tracer is used. This tracer travels to the more active parts of your brain, making them "light up" on the scan. Areas that are less active will be dimmer. A special kind of PET scan, called an FDG PET scan, uses radioactive sugar as a tracer. Because the brain uses a lot of sugar when active, the contrast shows more clearly between high and low activity in the brain.

This lower activity in the brain is called hypometabolism. When hypometabolism is uneven between the two sides of the brain, it's called asymmetrical hypometabolism. If the scan shows asymmetrical hypometabolism in certain lobes of the brain, it can be a strong sign of corticobasal degeneration, especially if it affects lobes at the front and sides of the brain. These are called the frontal and parietal lobes. But asymmetrical hypometabolism of the frontal and parietal lobes can be caused by other conditions as well.

Another type of PET scan, called a tau PET, can show clumps of protein in the brain that may cause CBD.

Blood and fluid tests

Your healthcare professional may test your blood or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). These tests cannot confirm or rule out CBD. Nor can they confirm the difference between CBD and certain diseases such as Parkinson's disease. But they can confirm or rule out Alzheimer's disease. Also, they can show factors that may lead to CBD. These factors include a buildup of tau proteins or protein molecules that don’t stay in their correct shape. Protein molecules that lose shape and fold differently are called amyloid proteins. Amyloid proteins can become clumped together, forming amyloid plaques that cause damage.

Treatment

Currently, there are no treatments that help slow the progression of corticobasal degeneration. But there may be options to help you manage your symptoms. If your symptoms are due to Alzheimer's disease, new medicines may be available.

Treatments to help you manage your symptoms may include:

Medicines

Medicines cannot cure CBD and may offer only limited relief from symptoms. Still, the following medicines may be prescribed for the mild relief they may give.

  • Parkinson's medicines. Because CBS can be caused by different conditions including CBD and Parkinson's disease, medicines used to treat Parkinson's may be prescribed. A common choice is levodopa. A special combination medicine, called carbidopa-levodopa may be prescribed when CBD might be a possible cause. This medicine is meant to help relieve stiffness and other movement symptoms. Also, levodopa may be used to rule out Parkinson's. If there is no response to levodopa, it is likely that Parkinson's is not the cause of CBS.
  • Antiseizure medicines. Medicines such as gabapentin may be used to relieve muscle shakes and jerks.
  • Muscle relaxants. Medicines such as baclofen may help ease stiffness.
  • Botox. Injections of botulinum toxin may help relieve spasm and pain.
  • Mental processing medicines. Medicines called cholinesterase inhibitors may help with memory or other mental processing symptoms. Examples of cholinesterase inhibitors include donepezil and rivastigmine. These medicines also are used in the treatment of dementia.

Supportive therapies

  • Physical therapy. A physical therapist can help with range of motion, balance and coordination.
  • Occupational therapy. An occupational therapist can help with doing routine tasks such as dressing or eating.
  • Speech therapy. A speech therapist can help with communication and swallowing.
  • Mental health support. Depression is a common symptom of CBD. Noticing and treating depression early is important.
  • Walking devices. Devices such as wheelchairs should be used to prevent falls.
  • Nutritional support. A dietitian can help create a balanced diet and reduce the risk of choking.
  • Magnetic therapy. Although more research is needed, transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) shows promise in treating mental health and nervous system conditions. In this treatment, a large magnet is placed near the head. It delivers quick, gentle, magnetic pulses. These pulses pass through the skull and help balance activity in different areas of the brain.

Preparing for your appointment

You may start by seeing your healthcare professional. Or your healthcare professional may refer you to a specialist, such as a neurologist, right away.

Here's some information to help you get ready for your appointment.

What you can do

When you make the appointment, ask if there's anything you need to do in advance. For example, you might ask if you need to fast before a specific test. Make a list of:

  • Your symptoms. Include any that seem unrelated to the reason for your appointment.
  • Key personal information. This includes major stresses, recent life changes and family medical history.
  • All medicines, vitamins or other supplements you take. Include the doses.
  • Questions to ask. This can help you make the most of your time at the appointment.

Take a family member or friend along to help you remember the information you're given.

For corticobasal degeneration, some basic questions to ask include:

  • What's likely causing my symptoms?
  • Other than the most likely cause, what are other possible causes for my symptoms?
  • What tests do I need?
  • Is my condition likely temporary or chronic?
  • What's the best course of action?
  • What are the alternatives to the primary approach you're suggesting?
  • I have these other health conditions. How can I best manage them together?
  • Are there limits I need to follow?
  • Should I see a specialist?
  • Are there brochures or other printed materials I can have? What websites do you recommend?

Don't hesitate to ask other questions you may have.

What to expect from your doctor

Your healthcare professional is likely to ask you several questions, such as:

  • When did your symptoms begin?
  • Have your symptoms been continuous or occasional?
  • How bad are your symptoms?
  • What, if anything, seems to make your symptoms better?
  • What, if anything, seems to make your symptoms worse?
By Mayo Clinic Staff