Dementia and Parkinson-like syndrome with basal ganglia lesion in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders

ABSTRACT

Brain lesions in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD) are generally located at sites of high anti-aquaporin 4 (AQP4) expression. Clinical features of NMOSD associated with basal ganglia damage in sites not enriched with AQP4 remain unknown. Here we describe the case of an 82-year-old woman who developed dementia and bradykinesia for 5 weeks. Brain magnetic resonance imaging revealed obvious basal ganglia abnormalities. Test for serum anti-AQP4 antibody was positive, and she was diagnosed with NMOSD. Our case showed that NMOSD associated with dementia and/or Parkinson-like syndrome with basal ganglia lesions could be another clinical presentation in NMOSD.

KEYWORDS:

• Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders
• anti-aquaporin 4 antibody
• parkinsonism
• dementia
• basal ganglia

Acknowledgments

We thank Dr. Keiko Tanaka for measuring the anti-NMDA antibody.

Statement of ethics

This case report was approved by the ethical committee. Written informed consent for publication of medical records, including images was obtained from the daughter of the patient.

Disclosure statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Additional information

Funding

This case report was supported, in part, by a Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research from the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology;a Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research from the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology.