Generality
Cerebral atrophy is the reduction of brain tissue, resulting from necrosis and / or shrinking of the cells that make up the aforementioned tissue.
Cerebral atrophy is a normal consequence of aging, but not only. In fact, it can also depend on various injuries and conditions of the brain, including: brain trauma, stroke episodes, Alzheimer's disease, senile dementia, frontotemporal dementia, malnutrition, anorexia nervosa, infectious nature etc.
The possible symptom picture is very broad and depends on the affected area of the brain.
For a correct diagnosis of cerebral atrophy, the images provided by tests such as nuclear magnetic resonance or CT scan of the brain are essential.
Unfortunately, the changes in brain tissue induced by brain atrophy are permanent. Therefore, no treatment available at the moment is capable of restoring normal brain anatomy and restoring normal brain functions.
What is brain atrophy?
Cerebral atrophy is the reduction in mass of the brain tissue, resulting from the necrosis and / or shrinking of the cells that make up the aforementioned tissue.
Therefore, to the damage of the brain, the cerebral atrophy determines a numerical and / or functional decrease of the brain neurons, and a loss of the connections that these neurons establish among themselves.
As a result of cerebral atrophy, the affected person's brain loses a more or less substantial part of its functions. The burden of lost function depends on how extensive the brain atrophy is.
Medical significance of atrophy
In medicine, the term atrophy indicates a reduction in the mass of a tissue or organ; this reduction is due to the death (necrosis) or shrinking of the cells that make up the affected tissue or organ.
Necrosis and / or shrinkage are the final result of a progressive loss of cytoplasmic proteins.
TYPES OF BRAIN ATROPHY
Cerebral atrophy can affect the entire brain or parts of it.
If it affects the entire brain, it is defined by the term "generalized"; if it is located only in some portions of the brain, it is called focal.
Clearly, generalized cerebral atrophy somewhat compromises all the functions of the brain, while focal cerebral atrophy only affects the functions of the brain areas that are victims of the atrophy process.
Causes
As we age, the human brain is the victim, inevitably and to a greater or lesser extent depending on the case, of a reduction in the mass of the brain tissue. Aging, therefore, is the main cause of cerebral atrophy.
That said, brain atrophy is also a possible consequence of brain injury or disease, including:
- Brain trauma. At the origin of most brain trauma are workplace accidents, motor vehicle accidents and head injuries during physical contact sports;
- Episodes of stroke. The term stroke and its many synonyms - including stroke, stroke, brain infarction, and stroke - they indicate the death, due to insufficient blood supply, of a more or less extended area of the brain;
- Alzheimer's disease. It is the most common type of dementia in the world. It determines a progressive and inexorable cognitive decline, affecting short and long term memory, movement skills, abstraction of thought, language, judgment skills, personality and behavior;
- Senile dementia, frontotemporal dementia and vascular dementia;
- Pick's disease. It is a particular subtype of frontotemporal dementia;
- Huntington's disease. It is a hereditary neurodegenerative disease, which arises as a result of a mutation in the gene for the huntingtin protein. The peculiarity of this hereditary disease, present from birth, is that its symptoms appear between 30 and 40 years;
- Cerebral palsy;
- Leukodystrophies, such as Krabbe's disease, which involve an incorrect metabolism of the myelin sheath of the axons;
- Multiple sclerosis. It is a chronic and disabling disease, which arises as a result of a progressive degradation of the myelin belonging to the neurons of the central nervous system;
- L "severe epilepsy;
- Malnutrition. Several scientists have shown that vitamin B12 deficiency is a condition often associated with brain atrophy;
- Anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and other eating disorders;
- Type II diabetes;
- Mitochondrial encephalomyopathies, such as Kearns-Sayre syndrome. A mitochondrial encephalomyopathy is a particular form of encephalopathy, which is characterized by its permanent nature and by the fact that it arises due to a congenital malfunction of the mitochondria present in the cells of the organism concerned.
Furthermore, cerebral atrophy can be a consequence of infectious diseases, such as infectious encephalitis, neurosyphilis or AIDS, and of the abuse of neuroleptic drugs or corticosteroids.
To know more
Readers interested in learning more about dementias (Alzheimer's disease, frontotemporal dementias, Huntington's disease, etc.) and the consequences of brain dementia can consult the article here.
RISK FACTORS OF CEREBRAL ATROPHY
Many of the main causes of brain atrophy, such as Alzheimer's disease, vascular dementia, senile dementia or stroke, are typical of old age.
Therefore, advanced age and aging in general can be considered not only the most important causes of brain atrophy, but also the most important risk factors.
Other risk factors for cerebral atrophy, worthy of mention, are: the practice of work or sporting activities in which there is a high risk of head injury, arteriosclerosis, alcohol abuse (alcoholism) and a family history of Alzheimer's disease, Huntington's disease or similar neurological disorders.
Symptoms, signs and complications
The symptoms and signs of cerebral atrophy vary according to the area of the brain affected by the processes of necrosis and shrinkage.
For example, if cerebral atrophy affects the occipital lobes, the patient suffers from visual problems; if it affects the temporal lobes, the patient experiences memory loss, language difficulties, mood swings, abnormal behavior, personality changes, poor understanding of sounds etc.
From this it follows that each patient with brain atrophy represents a case in itself.
- More or less severe speech impairment (aphasia)
- Short and / or long-term amnesia (N.B: amnesia means lack of memory)
- Visual problems
- Mood swings, abnormal changes and personality changes
- Deficits in concentration, planning and reasoning
- Slow thinking
- Space-time confusion and disorientation
- Reduction or loss of judgment skills
- Problems with balance and / or movement
- Attacks of agitation and hallucinations
- Lack of response
- Convulsions and / or seizures
- Loss of consciousness (more severe cases)
COMPLICATIONS
In those affected, advanced brain atrophy is responsible for several complications, including: the inability to perform the simplest daily activities and participate in the most normal social activities, the total lack of independence from others and a state of major depression.
Diagnosis
The presence of cerebral atrophy emerges, in a clear and evident way, from the execution of diagnostic tests such as nuclear magnetic resonance of the brain and CT (or Computed Axial Tomography) of the brain.
DIAGNOSIS OF THE CAUSES
When diagnosing brain atrophy, it is very important to identify the underlying causes. In fact, only thanks to the knowledge of the triggering causes, it is possible to plan the most appropriate therapy.
A thorough physical examination, a thorough medical history, a complete neurological examination, a cognitive and neuropsychological examination, and a series of laboratory tests are essential for the discovery of the triggering causes of brain atrophy.
Therapy
Unfortunately, the changes and necrosis events that cerebral atrophy causes in the brain tissue are incurable and irreparable. Therefore, cerebral atrophy is a permanent condition, for which there is no possibility of reversion.
All this, however, does not exclude that there are treatments capable of alleviating the symptoms of cerebral atrophy and treatments capable of slowing down or even stopping the inexorable progress of some triggering conditions (such as stroke, Alzheimer's disease , malnutrition, anorexia nervosa or infectious encephalopathies).
To learn more about the treatment of the factors that can cause brain atrophy and the symptomatic therapy of the latter, readers can consult:
- Alzheimer's disease medications;
- Alzheimer's disease care and treatment;
- Medicines for the treatment of anorexia nervosa;
- Diet for anorexia nervosa;
- Medicines for the treatment of vascular dementia;
- Stroke Medication.
EXAMPLES OF THERAPIES VALID FOR THE TREATMENT OF CEREBRAL ATROPHY
Among the medical treatments capable of relieving the symptoms of brain atrophy, a quick mention deserves: anticonvulsants, cognitive-behavioral psychotherapy, physiotherapy and the so-called speech therapy.
Prognosis
Being an incurable condition, cerebral atrophy can only always have a poor prognosis.
Prevention
Unfortunately, brain atrophy is not preventable.
However, it is good to remember that controlling blood pressure, eating in a healthy and balanced manner, limiting or avoiding the consumption of alcohol and keeping mentally, physically and socially active are, according to the entire medical community, effective countermeasures in reducing or at least postponing the onset of cerebral atrophy.
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