Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2014 Jan;11(1-2):26-8.

Would You Recognize Fahr's Disease if You Saw It?

Affiliations

Would You Recognize Fahr's Disease if You Saw It?

Dharmendra Goyal et al. Innov Clin Neurosci. 2014 Jan.

Abstract

Idiopathic basal ganglia calcification or Fahr's disease is a neurological condition with a prominent movement disorder. Diagnostically, brain imaging with computerized tomographic scanning reveals bilateral brain calcifications, usually of the basal ganglia. A positive family history is very common, along with a generational anticipatory effect, thus familial basal ganglia calcification is an alternative name. Cognitive deficits and psychiatric symptoms are often present. This progressive disease has no cure, but symptomatic treatment may be beneficial.

Keywords: CT scan; Fahr’s disease; cerebral calcification; cognitive deficit; dementia; idiopathic basal ganglia calcification; movement disorder.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

FIGURES 1 and 2.
FIGURES 1 and 2.
Computerized tomographic scans of the head in 2010 (Figure 1) and 2013 (Figure 2) reveal coarse bilateral, symmetrical calcifications in the basal ganglia, with progression in 2013.
FIGURES 1 and 2.
FIGURES 1 and 2.
Computerized tomographic scans of the head in 2010 (Figure 1) and 2013 (Figure 2) reveal coarse bilateral, symmetrical calcifications in the basal ganglia, with progression in 2013.

References

    1. Malik R, Panday VK, Naik D. Fahr’s disease: a rare neurodegenerative disorder. Int J Radiol Image. 2004;14:383–384.
    1. Baba Y, Broderick DF, Uitti RJ, et al. Heredofamilial brain calcinosis syndrome. Mayo Clinic Proc. 2005;80:251–256. - PubMed
    1. Manyam BV, Bhatt MH, Moore WD, et al. Bilateral striopalliododentate calcinosis: cerebrospinal fluid, imaging and elctrophysiological studies. Ann Neural. 1992;31:379–384. - PubMed
    1. Billard C, Dulac O, Boulouche J, et al. Encephalopathy with calcifications of basal ganglia in children: a reappraisal of Fahr’s disease with respect to 14 new cases. Neuropediatrics. 1989;20:12–19. - PubMed
    1. Shakbai SV, Johnson JP, Bourgeois JA. Paranoid delusions and cognitive impairment suggesting Fahr’s disease. Psychosomatics. 2005;46:569–572. - PubMed

LinkOut - more resources