Medical Dictionary
Main Entry:
Gerst·mann–Sträuss·ler–Schein·ker syndrome Pronunciation:
'gerst-m&n-'s(h)trois-l&r-'shI[ng]-k&r- Function:
noun : a rare spongiform encephalopathy that is related to Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, is marked by ataxia, dementia, and by accumulation of amyloid plaques in the brain, and that isinherited as an autosomal dominant trait but has been transmitted experimentally to animals called also
Gerstmann-Sträussler-Scheinker disease, Gerstmann-Sträussler syndromeSträussler, E. and
Scheinker, I., Austrian physicians. Sträussler and Scheinker were coauthors of an article published in 1936 by Gerstmann that offered thefirst description of the form of encephalopathy that now bears the names of all three.
