Adult-onset leukoencephalopathy with axonal spheroids and pigmented glia

Definition

A rare leukodystrophy characterized by progressive cognitive impairment, neuropsychiatric features, motor dysfunction involving parkinsonian symptoms, gait disturbances, spasticity and speech impairment. Epilepsy, stroke-like episodes, sensory dysfunction, dizziness, fatigue, urinary and fecal incontinence are commonly observed in affected individuals. Neuroaxonal spheroids and pigmented (iron or lipofuscin) macrophages and glial cells, together with diffuse myelin loss and axonal destruction, are major histopathological hallmarks.