Klüver-Bucy syndrome or KBS is a type of neurological disorder that leads to amnesia and behavioural problems. Broadly speaking brain injury or diseases affecting the brain can cause it. The abnormal behaviour is seen in sexual or social or in reaction to food.
In this post, we will discuss the symptoms, causes, diagnosis and management of this condition.
You have probably never heard of KBS because it is a very rare condition. When affected by the condition they may try to eat things that aren’t food. Some may have an atypical drive for sex. Very severe forms are the ones that have memory loss. Some of these severe cases can have seizures also.
The affected lobe of the brain is the temporal lobe which is involved in memory formation, judging food and sex, and assessing new information, thoughts and emotions.
One of the main causes of this condition is brain injury but some brain diseases like encephalitis can cause it also. KBS can happen in any age group and it does not have a cure. The best that can be seen is a reduction in the symptoms. Best outcomes can be gotten with early detection.
There are different names for this condition, it is also called Bilateral Temporal Lobe Disorder or Post-encephalitic Klüver-Bucy syndrome.
Demographics- It mostly affects adults but can happen in any age group and takes place usually after injuries. The chances are significantly higher if you have Alzheimer’s disease, CVS diseases, seizure disorders and head trauma.
This condition can be very similar to other conditions so speaking with a doctor is very important if you start having symptoms because the symptoms are very similar to what is seen in other conditions.
Causes
It typically happens when there is temporal lobe injury affecting the amygdala and hippocampus. The damage to the brain is typically due to dead injury or brain infections. People who have a stroke can develop KBS in children which happens after herpes.
Clinical features
Clinical features seen in KBS are dependent on the area affected and how seriously affected it was. The symptoms are memory loss and abnormal sexual behaviour. These symptoms may be temporary or permanent.
The more common symptoms are those of Bulimia nervosa. They are more likely to eat more, smoke and abuse alcohol. They may chew and swallow inedible things or simply lick them.
The other symptom seen in KBS is memory loss as in dementia. Hypersexuality presents itself in children with them holding their genitals or making back-and-forth movements with their pelvis.
They may suffer from visual agnosia and then find it difficult to recognize familiar people or objects. In rare cases, this condition may present with aggressive tendencies and seizures.
Diagnosis
The diagnosis of this condition is made with the use of imaging. You might experience symptoms or someone around you might be having them. As a doctor also a patient may present this way and the next course of action is to do an examination. Typically you want to do a mental state exam to assess these features.
A CT and MRI will be able to show the brain injury.
Treatment
The condition is not exactly curable but the symptoms are been known to go away. It is typically treated with antidepressants, mood stabilizers and antipsychotic drugs. If the patient has seizures antiepileptics are prescribed. The infection is also treated usually with antivirals.
Prognosis
The hope of the patient getting better is dependent on the specific cause of the condition. The drugs may help with the symptoms but over time the condition may reappear.
Conclusion
KBS or Klüver-Bucy syndrome is a rare disease that results from brain injury. It is more common in adults than in children. It presents with memory loss and behavioural changes. It is confirmed with neuroimaging. The drugs used to treat this condition are antidepressants, anti-psychotics mood stabilizers, antiepileptics and antivirals.
The prognosis depends on the cause and the severity of the condition.