Case Report
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Fahr’s Disease Presenting as Primary Progressive Aphasia
*Corresponding author: 4Director of Clinical Neurophysiology Laboratory, Neurology Professor, UCF Medical School, USA.
Received: December 14, 2024; Published: January 03, 2024
DOI: 10.34297/AJBSR.2024.21.002791
Keywords: Fahr, Progressive, Aphasia
Case Report
A 66 years-old-man presented with progressive word-finding difficulties and impulsive behavior. Examination showed nonfluent aphasia, anomia, impulse control disorder, executive dysfunction and ataxia. Neuropsychological testing was consistent with primary progressive aphasia. Labs were unremarkable, including parathyroid hormone, calcium, and phosphorus. CT head showed symmetric calcifications in basal ganglia, thalamus and cerebellum (Figure 1 A, B, C). Brain PET was normal. Fahr’s disease also known as an idiopathic basal ganglia calcification may have genetic, infectious, metabolic etiology and typically presents with movement disorders. Dysarthria is common, but aphasia has not been reported. 1,2 This unusual clinical presentation is likely secondary to the involvement of frontal projections [1,2].
Study funding
No targeted funding reported.
Disclosures
The authors report no disclosures relevant to the manuscript.
Acknowledgements
None.
Conflict of Interests
None.
References
- Donzuso G, Mostile G, Nicoletti A, Zappia M (2019) Basal ganglia calcification (Fahr’s syndrome): related conditions and clinical features. Neurol Sci 40: 2251-2263.
- Saleem S, Aslam HM, Anwar M, Saleem M, Saleem A, et al. (2013) Fahr’s syndrome: literature review of current evidence. Orphanet J Rare Dis 8: 156.