Living with Marchiafava-Bignami disease
A brain condition in which the nerve fibers joining the two halves of the brain lose their coating, mostly in adults.
Understanding Marchiafava-Bignami disease
The corpus callosum joins the two halves of the brain. GARD says the disease most often affects people with severe, long-term alcohol use, in middle or late adult life. Early symptoms can include depression, paranoia, psychosis, or dementia. Seizures are common.
Signs & symptoms
Symptoms vary from person to person. GARD lists these among the most common:
- Memory and thinking problems
- Mood changes
- Trouble walking and coordinating movements
- Difficulty speaking clearly (dysarthria)
- Headache
- Increased muscle tone in the arms or legs
Not everyone has every symptom. GARD's list comes from the Human Phenotype Ontology.
Diagnosis
- 1Talk with your doctor
Share the symptoms you've noticed, when they started and your family health history. Notes and photos can help.
- 2See a specialist
Specialists who may be involved include brain and nervous system specialists.
- 3Ask which tests can help
Your care team will decide which exams and tests can confirm the diagnosis.
Care & treatment
- Care team
- Brain and nervous system specialists (neurologists)
- Expert care
- Ask about multidisciplinary care centers for rare conditions
- Treatment
- GARD doesn't list specific treatments for this condition. Your care team will tailor care to your symptoms.
- Research
- Clinical trials and observational studies may be options. See the research section below.
General information, not medical advice. Your care team makes the decisions.
Everyday life
Living with a rare condition is easier with support.
- Connect with National Organization of Disorders of the Corpus Callosum
- Keep notes on symptoms, changes and questions for appointments
- Ask about patient registries that help research
- Look into financial aid and travel resources for care visits
Quick facts
GARD says the cause is unknown, including whether poor nutrition plays a role. It lists no gene or inheritance pattern.
Also known as: central demyelination of corpus callosum; marchiafava bignami disease; marchiafava disease; mbd
Patient organizations
- National Organization of Disorders of the Corpus CallosumMarchiafava-Bignami disease · United States
You are more than your diagnosis
Perspectives from people navigating life with Marchiafava-Bignami disease.
Explore research for Marchiafava-Bignami disease
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- Recruiting studies from ClinicalTrials.gov
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- Eligibility is confirmed by the study team
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