Binswanger's disease

Overview
Binswanger's disease or Subcortical Leukoencephalopathy is a rare form of multi-infarct dementia caused by damage to deep white brain matter. It is characterized by loss of memory and intellectual function and by changes in mood.

Presentation
Binswanger's disease is one of the neurological syndromes associated with hypertension. It is uncommon, but obviously devastating. The histologic findings are diffuse, irregular loss of axons and myelin accompanied by widespread gliosis. Small infarcts may be seen in the frontal lobes. The pathologic mechanism may be damage caused by severe atherosclerosis.

A patient with long term severe hypertension develops progressive dementia. CT scans of the head demonstrate a diffuse loss of deep hemispheric white matter.

Prognosis
Binswanger's disease has no known treatment, let alone cure, although drugs used to treat high blood pressure, depression, arrhythmia and low blood pressure are used to treat the condition's symptoms.