In the later stages sufferers may compulsively put objects in their mouths. Swallowing may become difficult with patients choking on food. People with Pick s disease are often easily distracted. In the early stages of the disease the person usually remains aware of time and is able to recognise people and faces unlike the usual presentation of Alzheimer s disease. However, failure to recognise faces and using objects wrongly sometimes occurs.
Mathematical skills are usually relatively well preserved.
Pick s Disease may be a rapidly progressive illness, it may last between 2 to 10 years the mean length of illness being 7 years. The cause of this form of neurodegenerative disease is uncertain. There are overlaps between Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. This appears to be complex but may explain firstly the relationship of DLB to the other primary Lewy body disorders including Parkinson's disease and secondly the association with Alzheimer's disease. It remains to be seen whether genetic testing will be sufficiently simple to help in clinical diagnosis.