Corticobasal Degeneration (Corticobasal Syndrome)

Corticobasal degeneration is a neurological (brain) disorder. It damages cells in your brain, causing parts of it to shrink (atrophy). The disease’s symptoms may first appear on one side of your body, but eventually affect both sides as the disease progresses. With progression, you gradually lose your ability to talk, swallow and move. The disease could also affect other areas of thinking, including judgment and memory.

What does corticobasal degeneration mean?

“Corticobasal” refers to the two parts of your brain the disease affects. “Degeneration” refers to deterioration or loss of function.

The disease affects your:

• Cerebral cortex: This outer layer of nerve tissue aids your memory, learning, voluntary movements and senses.
• Basal ganglia: This group of nerve cells is critical for learning and motor functions.

How common is corticobasal degeneration?

Corticobasal degeneration is a rare brain disease. Diagnosis is challenging. Estimates indicate that as many as 3,000 Americans may have the condition, but only about 700 have received the correct diagnosis.

What are the types of corticobasal degeneration?

Corticobasal syndrome is a term used to specify that the symptoms, taken together, are similar to corticobasal degeneration. Many underlying neurodegenerative diseases can be caused by corticobasal syndrome, including:

• Progressive supranuclear palsy. Approximately 1 in 4 people have a type that resembles progressive supranuclear palsy. It affects balance, eye movement, speech and swallowing.
• Frontotemporal dementia. About 15% of people have frontotemporal dementia. They may struggle to organize their thoughts and behave in inappropriate, uninhibited ways.
• Dementia. An estimated 5% develop a type of dementia that’s similar to Alzheimer’s disease. They have problems with memory and gauging spatial distances between themselves and other people or objects.
• Aphasia. Five percent have language problems or aphasia. They have trouble finding the right words to say and become unable to follow grammar rules.