Summary and Conclusions

Pick's disease is a very rare form of dementia that causes personality changes, speech problems and loss of social skills and intellectual function. Pick's bodies, which are abnormal proteins called tau, form inside and damage brain cells. It is not known why Pick's bodies form in the brain. The disease usually occurs between ages 40 to 60 and tends to affect women more than men. There is no cure for the disease and it usually results in death by infection. Death may occur in less than two years or more than 10 years. Treatment is designed to address symptoms of the disease. There is no method of preventing the disease.