STAGES OF CORTICOBASAL DEGENERATION( CBD)
Treatment, care or resources people can utilize:
• Outpatient rehabilitation therapies such as physical, occupational or speech therapy
• Regular exercise
Middle Stage
People often notice that they are moving into the middle stage when they need a bit more assistance completing daily activities. People who did not get a CBD or CBS diagnosis in the early stage are likely now diagnosed. The progression and impact of symptoms typically looks something like:
Motor Symptoms people may experience:
• Increasing difficulty with motor tasks in affected limbs
• Muscle tightness and stiffness potentially with pain
• Imbalance and falls, possible involuntary jerking movements Speech and swallowing symptoms people may experience:
• Mild speech impairment
• Mild difficulty swallowing Non-motor symptoms people may experience:
• Difficulty organizing information
• Difficulty with comprehension
• Possible impulsivity
• Possible mood disorders Impact on daily living:
• Some assistance is required to complete one’ s daily activities, such as dressing, showering, getting out of low chairs, or ambulating outside of the home
Treatment, care or resources people can utilize:
• Outpatient rehabilitation therapies with focus on strategies to help with daily activities, safety with ambulation and moving, communication and care partner training
• Possible benefit for oral medications or botulinum toxin( Botox) injections to manage symptoms, such as muscle stiffness
• Evaluation to capture baseline swallowing function( often a modified barium study or sometimes a fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing( FEES))
• Evaluation for wheelchair
• Social work and palliative care services for additional support and initiate discussions around care planning
• Make future healthcare decisions before they need to be made, such as designating a power of attorney and deciding on advanced directives like a do not resuscitate( DNR) order or a living will