What is Pick's disease?

Pick's disease is a rare form of dementia, according to Healthline. It is also called frontotemporal dementia because it only affects the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain.

The shrinkage of brain tissue that causes Pick's disease results from a degeneration of nerve cells due to abnormal amounts or types of nerve cell proteins called Pick bodies, reports Healthline. Symptoms include difficulty with language, problems with memory and cognition, repetitive behavior, and abrupt changes in mood. Diagnosis involves patient and family interviews, a physical and neurological examination, reading and writing tests, and imaging and blood tests to rule out other conditions.