A 68-year-old man presents slight memory problems and behavioural change over a period of a year. A history of boxing is identified. Neuropsychological examination confirms slight frontal cognitive damage and damage at the level of the motor signs of the upper left hemicorpus. This symptomatology should, in differential diagnosis, raise the possibility of chronic punch-drunk syndrome. Further studies should be done to better document this little-characterized clinical entity and arrive at a clearer definition of this syndrome.
References
1.
StillerJ-W, WeinbergerD.R.Boxing and chronic brain damage.Psychiatrie Clinics of North America1985; 8: 339–355.
2.
MartlandH.Punch drunk.J Am Med Ass1928; 91: 1103–1107.
3.
MillspaughJ.A.Dementia pugilistica.United States Naval Medicine Bulletin1937; 35: 297–303.
4.
CritchleyM.Medical aspects of boxing, particularly from a neurological standpoint.Brit Med J1957; 1: 357–362.
5.
MawdsleyC., FergusonF.Neurological disease in boxers.Lancet1963; 2: 795–801.
6.
RobertsA-H.Brain damage in boxers.London: Pitman Medical and Scientific Publishing, 1969.
7.
ThomassenA., Juul-JensenP., OlivariusB.Neurological, electroencephalographic and neuropsychological examination of 53 former amateur boxers.Acta Neurol Scandinavia1979; 60: 352–367.
8.
JohnsonJ.Organic psychosyndromes due to boxing.Brit J Psychiatry1969; 115: 45–53.
9.
KasteM., VilkkiJ., SainioK.Is chronic brain damage in boxing a hazard of the past?Lancet1982; 2: 1186–1188.
10.
RossR., ColeM., ThompsonJ.Boxers: Computed tomography, EEG and neurological evaluation.J Am Med Assoc1983; 249: 211–213.
11.
PayneE-E.Brain of boxers.Neurochirurgia1968; 11: 173–188.
12.
CorsellisJ-A, BrutonC-T, Freeman-BrowneD.The aftermath of boxing.Psychol Medicine1973; 3: 270–303.
13.
SpillaneJ-D.Five boxers.Brit Med J1962; 2: 1205–1210.
14.
MortimerJ.Epidemiology of post-traumatic encephalopathy in boxers.Minnesota Medicine1985; 68: 299–300.
15.
GutermanA., SmithR.Neurological sequelae of boxing.Sports Medicine1987; 4: 194–210.
16.
La CavaG.Boxer's encephalopathy.J Sports Med1963; 3: 87–92.