Binswanger's Disease

Synonyms

• Binswanger's Encephalopathy
• Multi-infarct Dementia, Binswanger's Type
• Subcortical Dementia
• Vascular Dementia, Binswanger's Type
• Subcortical Ischemic Vascular Disease
• Subcortical Arteriosclerotic Encephalopathy, SAE

Disorder Subdivisions

• None

General Discussion

Binswanger's disease is a progressive neurological disorder characterized by atherosclerotic blood vessels supplying the white-matter and deep structures of the brain (basal ganglia and thalamus). Most patients experience progressive memory loss and deterioration of intellectual abilities (dementia), urinary urgency or incontinence, and an abnormally slow, shuffling, unsteady pattern of walking, usually over a 5-10 year period. Due to their vascular etiology, the symptoms and physical findings associated with Binswanger's disease may suddenly worsen due to stroke, stabilize and then improve for a brief time, but the patient's overall condition continues to progress as the blood vessels become increasingly obstructed.

Resources

National Association for Continence

PO Box 1019

Charleston, SC 29402

United States

Tel: (843)377-0900

Fax: (342)377-0905

Tel: (800)252-3337

Email: memberservices@nafc.org

Internet: http://www.nafc.org



Alzheimer's Association

225 North Michigan Avenue

Suite 1700

Chicago, IL 60601-7633

USA

Tel: (312)335-8700

Fax: (312)335-1110

Tel: (800)272-3900

Email: info@alz.org

Internet: http://www.alz.org



Alzheimer's Disease Education and Referral Center

P.O. Box 8250

Silver Spring, MD 20907-8250

Tel: (301)495-3311

Fax: (301)495-3334

Tel: (800)438-4380

Email: adear@alzheimers.org

Internet: http://www.alzheimers.org



NIH/National Institute on Aging

PO Box 8057

Gaithersburg, MD 20892-8057

Tel: (301)496-1752

Tel: (800)222-2225

Internet: http://www.nih.gov/nia



National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)

31 Center Drive

8A07

Bethesda, MD 20892-2540

Tel: (301)496-5751

Fax: (301)402-2186

Tel: (800)352-9424

Email: braininfo@ninds.nih.gov

Internet: http://www.ninds.nih.gov/

For a Complete Report

This is an abstract of a report from the National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc. ® (NORD). A copy of the complete report can be obtained for a small fee by visiting the NORD website. The complete report contains additional information including symptoms, causes, affected population, related disorders, standard and investigational treatments (if available), and references from medical literature. For a full-text version of this topic, see http://www.rarediseases.org/search/rdblist.html

The information provided in this report is not intended for diagnostic purposes. It is provided for informational purposes only. NORD recommends that affected individuals seek the advice or counsel of their own personal physicians.

It is possible that the title of this topic is not the name you selected. Please check the Synonyms listing to find the alternate name(s) and Disorder Subdivision(s) covered by this report

This disease entry is based upon medical information available through the date at the end of the topic. Since NORD's resources are limited, it is not possible to keep every entry in the Rare Disease Database completely current and accurate. Please check with the agencies listed in the Resources section for the most current information about this disorder.

For additional information and assistance about rare disorders, please contact the National Organization for Rare Disorders at P.O. Box 1968, Danbury, CT 06813-1968; phone (203) 744-0100; web site www.rarediseases.org or email orphan@rarediseases.org

Last Updated:  4/29/2009

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