Klüver-Bucy Syndrome
Overview
Klüver-Bucy syndrome (KBS) is an extremely rare brain disorder that can cause memory loss and behavioral problems. Some people with this disease try to eat nonfood items. Others have an unusually extreme sex drive. In severe cases, symptoms include seizures and dementia.
Damage to your temporal lobes, one of the major sections of your brain, causes Klüver-Bucy syndrome. This part of your brain helps you:
Form new memories.
Guide behavior related to food and sex.
Process sensory information and emotions.
Traumatic brain injury can trigger Klüver-Bucy syndrome. Other causes include neurological conditions, including herpes simplex encephalitis. Klüver-Bucy syndrome affects people of all ages.
This condition doesn’t have a cure. But treatment can help reduce or reverse symptoms. Early diagnosis is important.
Symptoms
The symptoms of KBS, as well as their severity, can vary from person to person. The clinical symptoms Trusted Source of KBS are:
Hyperorality: This is the tendency or compulsion to place objects in the mouth.
Hyper metamorphosis: This is an excessive attentiveness to visual stimuli. A person may have a tendency to touch every visual stimulus, regardless of its history or reward value.
Hypersexuality: This is extreme sexuality, which can cause a person to engage in inappropriate sexual behavior and lack social restraint in terms of sexuality.
Bulimia: This is a serious mental health condition that causes Trusted Source a person to indulge in binge eating followed by inappropriate compensatory behavior to prevent weight gain. Inappropriate compensatory behavior can include:
self-induced vomiting
laxative abuse
diuretic use
extreme physical activity
fasting
Placidity: This means that a person has a flat affect and a reduced response to emotional stimuli.
Visual agnosia: This is an impairment Trusted Source in recognizing visually presented objects, despite otherwise normal vision.
Amnesia: This is a profound loss of memory Trusted Source. People often use the term “amnesia” to refer to several memory problems relating to a variety of medical conditions.
Medical professionals describe a person who has three or more of these clinical symptoms as having partial KBS.
Causes
Klüver-Bucy syndrome happens when your brain’s temporal lobes, especially your hippocampus and amygdala, are injured. Brain damage may be due to traumatic head injury, infection or disease.
Adults are most likely to develop KBS due to stroke or head injury. Children usually develop Klüver-Bucy syndrome due to herpes simplex encephalitis (brain swelling or inflammation).
Diagnosis
You may notice unusual symptoms in yourself or your child. Or your healthcare provider may notice symptoms during a checkup. If you observe any signs or symptoms of Klüver-Bucy syndrome, see your healthcare provider for a full exam and diagnosis.
Healthcare providers diagnose Klüver-Bucy syndrome using a physical exam and other tests. These may include blood tests and imaging studies such as:
CT scan.
Electroencephalogram (EEG).
MRI.
Early detection is essential for effective treatment. In some cases, Klüver-Bucy syndrome may be mistaken for autism. Getting the right diagnosis ensures the best treatment plan for you or your child.
Treatment
There is currently no cure Trusted Source and no standard treatment for KBS. Therefore, it can be difficult to treat.
Treatment for KBS varies from person to person and often focuses on managing symptoms. A person with KBS may take certain medications to manage some symptoms of the syndrome. These can include Trusted Source:
mood stabilizers
antidepressants, particularly selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors
antipsychotic drugs
carbamazepine
leuprolide
Type of Doctor Department :Psychiatry, Neurology
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