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In the case of damage to the parietal lobe of the brain, patients develop the so-called Gerstmann's syndrome. The disease can occur at any age. Due to the fact that in its course there are, inter alia, difficulties with reading and counting can severely impair patients' lives. Although there are no methods of treating the causal Gerstmann syndrome, the disease should not be underestimated - it is possible to improve the daily functioning of patients.

Gerstmann syndromewas described in 1924. Its name comes from the discoverer of the disease - the American neurologist Josef Gerstmann. Other terms for this unit areangular gyrus syndromeandangular gyrus syndrome . The disease can occur in both adults and children.

Gerstmann syndrome: causes

In adults, Gerstmann's syndrome occurs as a result of damage to the parietal lobe of the dominant hemisphere (in most people it is the left hemisphere of the brain). This type of damage can generate both injuries and processes related to cerebral ischemia - a stroke involving the parietal lobe of the brain may result in Gerstmann's syndrome. Although there are only a few descriptions of this situation, angular artery syndrome also occurs in children. As in adults it is usually possible to determine the cause of this condition, but in pediatric patients this is usually not possible. It is then referred to as the developmental form of Gerstmann's syndrome. An interesting aspect is that the condition occurs regardless of the patient's intellect - the occurrence of the syndrome has been reported in children with high, medium, and low intelligence.

Gerstmann syndrome: symptoms

The predominant ailments that are encountered in patients with Gerstmann's syndrome are:

  • agrafia / dysgraphia (inability or difficulty in writing),
  • akalkulia (various problems with counting and other mathematical aspects),
  • inability to distinguish the right and left side,
  • finger agnosia (inability to identify individual fingers - both in oneself and in other people).

Less common but also possible symptom of bend syndromeangular aphasia, consisting of difficulties with speaking, but also disorders of understanding the speech of other people. In children, the symptoms of Gerstmann's syndrome are generally similar to those of adults. The problem is usually noticed when the child starts attending school. They may experience difficulties with counting and writing, in addition (which distinguishes the childhood form from the angular artery syndrome occurring in adults), children may develop apraxia (a disorder related to the impaired performance of precise movements - a child with apraxia will have difficulties, e.g. complex geometric figure).

Gerstmann syndrome: diagnosis

The diagnosis of Gerstmann's syndrome is made on the basis of the patient's complaints and the detection of changes in imaging examinations characteristic of this disease. In the case of magnetic resonance imaging, it is possible to visualize ischemic changes within the angular gyrus of the parietal lobe of the brain.

Gerstmann syndrome: treatment

There is no causal treatment for Gerstmann syndrome. In patients, interactions such as speech training can be implemented, which is to improve their communication skills.

In the case of children with angular artery syndrome, it is important to support them as much as possible during their schooling. In order not to discourage such a child from learning, you can support them, for example, by equipping them with a calculator.

Gerstmann syndrome: prognosis

In most adults with Gerstmann's syndrome, the intensity of the disease's symptoms decreases with time (probably due to the fact that the role of the damaged region of the brain is taken over by other centers of this organ). The situation of children with angular artery syndrome is less favorable - their symptoms do not subside, but they adapt to their own limitations resulting from the disease.

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Category:

Neurology