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Dementia associated with dorsal midbrain lesion

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 February 2009

K.J. Meador ,
D.W. Loring ,
K.D. Sethi ,
F. Yaghmai ,
S.D. Styren  and
S.T. DeKosky
K.J. Meador
Affiliation:
Department of Neurology, Medical College of Georgia and VA Medical Center, Augusta, GA 30912 Department of Pharmacology/Toxicology, Medical College of Georgia and VA Medical Center, Augusta, GA 30912
D.W. Loring
Affiliation:
Department of Neurology, Medical College of Georgia and VA Medical Center, Augusta, GA 30912
K.D. Sethi
Affiliation:
Department of Neurology, Medical College of Georgia and VA Medical Center, Augusta, GA 30912
F. Yaghmai
Affiliation:
Department of Pathology, Medical College of Georgia and VA Medical Center, Augusta, GA 30912
S.D. Styren
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic and University of Pittsburgh Medical School, Pittsburgh, PA 15213 Department of Neurology, Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic and University of Pittsburgh Medical School, Pittsburgh, PA 15213
S.T. DeKosky
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic and University of Pittsburgh Medical School, Pittsburgh, PA 15213 Department of Neurology, Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic and University of Pittsburgh Medical School, Pittsburgh, PA 15213
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Abstract

Although the dorsal midbrain has been implicated in cognitive processes in animals, its role in humans is unclear. We report the neuropsychological and postmortem neuropathological findings of a 52-yr-old university professor who developed a profound dementia in association with a focal dorsal midbrain lesion. The patient's disorder appeared to result from a tuberculous granuloma based on the clinical course and autopsy results. Neuropsychologically, he exhibited a generalized impairment across most of the cognitive domains assessed. His deficits were not explained by impaired arousal, specific sensory or motor defects, depression, or hydrocephalus. Although there are inherent limitations to a single-case investigation, our observations are consistent with animal studies that have demonstrated that focal dorsal midbrain lesions may result in cognitive impairment. We propose that the dorsal midbrain is involved in cognitive processing via modulation of thalamocortical networks. (JINS, 1996, 2, 359–367.)

Keywords

DementiaMesencephalonMidbrainTruberculosis
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society , Volume 2 , Issue 4 , July 1996 , pp. 359 - 367
Copyright
Copyright © The International Neuropsychological Society 1996

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