Fahr's Syndrome

What is Fahr's syndrome?

Fahr's syndrome, also called Fahr’s disease, is a rare brain disorder. It’s caused by a buildup of the mineral calcium mainly in areas of the brain that control movement, but it can also affect other parts of the brain.      

The extra calcium comes from the body’s own blood and tissues. Because of a problem in how the brain handles minerals, calcium that should stay dissolved in the bloodstream gradually builds up in certain areas of the brain. In people with Fahr’s syndrome, the extra calcium affects how brain cells work and can gradually damage brain tissue.

Variants (also called mutations) in at least four different genes cause Fahr’s syndrome. Fahr’s syndrome is inherited in an autosomal dominant pattern. A person only needs to inherit one copy of the affected gene from either parent to have the disease. 

Symptoms of Fahr’s syndrome

People usually start to show symptoms of Fahr’s syndrome in their 40s or 50s. Fahr’s syndrome symptoms can include:

How is Fahr’s syndrome diagnosed and treated?

Diagnosing Fahr’s syndrome

Doctors use brain scans to diagnose Fahr’s syndrome. CT scans show calcium deposits as bright areas in specific parts of the brain, while MRI scans provide detailed images of the brain that helps rule out other conditions. Genetic testing can also be done to identify gene variants that cause Fahr’s syndrome.

Learn more about neurological diagnostic tests and procedures.

Treating Fahr’s syndrome

Currently, there is no cure for Fahr's syndrome. Instead, doctors treat symptoms of the disorder. They may use pain medicines for headaches, medicines to control seizures, and medicines for depression. Physical therapy can also help people with the condition move more easily and perform daily tasks.

What are the latest updates on Fahr's syndrome?

The National Institutes of Health (NIH), which includes NINDS, is the leading federal funder of research on the brain and nervous system, including disorders such as Fahr’s syndrome. NIH supports new research to better understand, diagnose, and treat Fahr’s syndrome.

For more information on research about Fahr’s syndrome, check NIH RePORTER, a searchable database of current and past research projects funded by NIH and other federal agencies. RePORTER also has links to publications and resources from these projects.

For research articles and summaries on Fahr’s syndrome, search PubMed, which contains citations from medical journals and other sites.     

How can I or my loved one help improve care for people with Fahr's syndrome?

Consider participating in a clinical trial so clinicians and scientists can learn more about Fahr's syndrome and related disorders. Clinical research with human study participants helps researchers learn more about a disorder and perhaps find better ways to safely detect, treat, or prevent disease.

All types of participants are needed—those who are healthy or may have an illness or disease—of all different ages, sexes, races, and ethnicities. This helps make sure that study results apply to as many people as possible and that treatments will be safe and effective for everyone who will use them.

For information about participating in clinical research, visit the NINDS Clinical Trials site and NIH Clinical Research Trials and You. Learn about clinical trials currently looking for people with Fahr's syndrome at ClinicalTrials.gov, a searchable database of current and past clinical studies and research results.