What does this mean?

[kaz]

Hi

We have just got results back from the SPECT brain test that dad had we have been told it showed, Depression, Early on set Dementia, amyotrophy complex.

Any one have any dealing with amyotrophy complex and what it is as his docotors says he does not know what it is which is not very helpful - is it connected to dementia. Wondered if anyone on here knows anything about it.

Thanks Karen

 

[Skye]

Hi Kaz

Amyotrophy means muscle wastage, and can be very painful. It can be associated with diabetes -- is your dad diabetic?

I haven't hears that it's connected with dementia, though someone else may have heard of this.

 

[kaz]

hi

Dads not diabetic has had numourous blood tests etc no mention of it at all think would have shown up by now
thanks

 

[Sandy]

Dear kaz,

I don't have any first-hand experience of this, but using Google I was able to find a term that sounds similar:

Disinhibition-Dementia-Parkinsonism-Amyotrophy Complex (DDPAC)

Most of the articles that discuss this condition are fairly technical, but here are two that are better than the others:

http://ci.columbia.edu/c1182/web/sect_5/c1182_s5_4.html

http://www.geneclinics.org/profiles/ftdp-17/details.html

This condition, if that's what it is, is probably not that common so it's possible that one of your dad's doctors has not encountered it before.

Looks like you will need the input of a consultant neurologist/psychiatrist to get a better picture.

Take care,

Sandy