Kluver-Bucy Syndrome
The long-term consequences of a brain injury cannot reliably be predicted; a patient may fully recover, or may suffer from permanent physical and cognitive disabilities. The outcome depends on the location of the injury, the extent of damage done, the quality of treatment received, and potentially more factors that have not yet been determined. When the temporal lobe is damaged, one possible result is a rare and incurable condition known as Klüver-Bucy syndrome.
A head injury can be life-changing, both for the victim and his or her loved ones. If your life has been affected by such an injury due to another party’s negligent actions, you may be eligible to receive compensation for your losses. For more information, call Jacksonville personal injury lawyer Don Guthrie at 904-296-1088.
Diagnosing Klüver-Bucy Syndrome
The symptoms of Klüver-Bucy syndrome were first described among primates whose temporal lobes had been removed by researchers in the 1930s. In the 1950s, scientists discovered that humans whose temporal lobes had been damaged by injury or disease often showed similar symptoms. Klüver-Bucy syndrome is caused by bilateral damage, meaning both the left and right temporal lobes are harmed.
Some medical sources will vary in their descriptions of this syndrome. However, the following are consistently noted as its primary symptoms:
- Significantly decreased fear and/or aggression responses (also known as docility or tameness)
- Sudden and severe changes in sexual behavior
- Visual agnosia (an inability to recognize familiar objects or faces)
- Sudden and severe dietary changes, which may include overeating or eating strange objects
- Hyper-orality (a compulsion to place objects in one’s mouth)
Some studies have noted long-term memory loss, attention deficits, and seizures in addition to the symptoms listed above. Unfortunately, there is no cure for Klüver-Bucy syndrome. Treatment will generally focus on helping patients and their loved ones cope with and try to control these symptoms.
Contact a Jacksonville Brain Injury Lawyer
Serious head injuries can be highly costly in many different respects. If you are interested in pursuing compensation for medical bills, disability, and other losses related to a head injury that could have been prevented, contact Jacksonville brain injury attorney Don Guthrie at 904-296-1088.