The brain regulates the functioning of all organ systems. Any damage to it threatens the normal functioning of the entire body. Brain atrophy...

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26.05.2018 02:00

The brain regulates the functioning of all organ systems. Any damage to it threatens the normal functioning of the entire body. Brain atrophy is a pathological condition in which there is a progression of neuronal death and a loss of connections between them. This condition requires professional diagnosis and treatment. The types of atrophy and therapy are described in the article.

What it is?

The main organ of humans is the brain, which includes many nerve cells. Atrophic changes in its cortex lead to the gradual death of nerve cells, and mental abilities fade over time. The lifespan of a person depends on the age at which this pathology began to develop.

Changes in behavior are noticeable in almost all older people, but due to their slow development, these signs of decline are not considered pathological. Many older people are unable to respond to environmental changes in the same way as they did at a young age. In the elderly, intelligence decreases, but these changes do not cause neurology, psychopathy and dementia.

With cerebral atrophy of the brain, brain cells gradually die and nerve endings die. This condition is considered a pathology in which changes occur in the structure of the hemispheres. There is also a smoothing of the convolutions, a decrease in the volume and weight of this organ. The frontal lobes are more often destroyed, which causes a decrease in intelligence and behavioral deviations.

Causes

Today in medicine there is no clear answer to the question of why brain atrophy occurs. But it was found that predisposition to the disease can be inherited. It is also formed from birth injuries and intrauterine diseases. Experts identify congenital and acquired causes of the disease.

Congenital

These include:

• genetic factor;
• intrauterine infectious diseases;
• genetic mutations.

One of the genetic diseases that affects the cerebral cortex is Pick's disease. It is usually observed in middle-aged people, which manifests itself in the gradual damage of frontal and temporal neurons. The disease can develop rapidly and after 5-6 years leads to death.

Infection of a child during pregnancy also leads to the destruction of various organs, including the brain. For example, infection with toxoplasmosis in the early stages of gestation leads to damage to the nervous system of the fetus. After this, babies usually do not survive or are born with congenital abnormalities and mental retardation.

Purchased

There are also acquired reasons. Brain atrophy can occur from:

1. Drinking alcohol and smoking. This causes cerebral vascular spasm, resulting in oxygen starvation. Because of this, white matter cells cannot receive enough nutrients, causing them to die.
2. Infectious diseases that affect nerve cells - meningitis, rabies, polio.
3. Injuries, concussions and mechanical damage.
4. Severe form of renal failure. This causes general intoxication of the body, which causes metabolic disorders.
5. Hydrocephalus disorders. This phenomenon manifests itself in an increase in the subarachnoid space and ventricles.
6. Chronic ischemia, which leads to vascular damage and low supply of nutrients to neural connections.
7. Atherosclerosis, which manifests itself in a narrowing of the lumen of veins and arteries, which increases intracranial pressure and creates a risk of stroke.

Atrophy of the cerebral cortex can occur due to insufficient intellectual and physical activity, lack of a balanced diet and poor lifestyle.

Why does the disease develop?

Brain atrophy in adults and children usually develops due to a genetic predisposition to the disease, but acceleration and provocation of neuronal death can occur from various injuries and other factors. Atrophic changes appear in different parts of the cortex and subcortical substance, but with different manifestations of the disease, one clinical picture is observed. Small changes can be stopped and a person’s condition can be improved through medical means and lifestyle changes, but the disease cannot be completely eliminated.

Atrophy of the frontal lobes also develops during intrauterine maturation or prolonged labor due to prolonged oxygen starvation, causing necrotic processes in the cerebral cortex. These children usually die in the womb or are born with noticeable abnormalities. Brain cells are capable of dying due to mutations at the gene level due to the impact of harmful components on the health of a pregnant woman and prolonged intoxication of the fetus. But it could also be a chromosomal malfunction.

Signs

What are the signs of brain atrophy? At the initial stage of the disease, the symptoms are hardly noticeable and can only be detected by close people. The patient develops apathy, lack of desires, aspirations, lethargy and indifference. A lack of moral principles and increased sexual activity are often observed.

As brain cell death progresses, the following signs are observed:

1. The vocabulary decreases, so a person spends a long time looking for words to describe something.
2. Intellectual abilities decrease in a short time.
3. No self-criticism.
4. Control over actions is lost, and deterioration in body motor skills is observed.

Then, with atrophy, a deterioration in well-being appears and thought processes decrease. A person does not recognize familiar things and forgets about the rules for their use. Elimination of one's behavioral characteristics causes the appearance of the “mirror” syndrome, in which a person begins to copy other people. Then senile insanity and absolute degradation of personality are observed.

The changes in behavior that have arisen do not allow an accurate diagnosis to be made, so to establish the causes of the changes, a list of studies must be carried out. But thanks to the doctor, it will be possible to determine which part of the brain has undergone destructuring. In case of destruction in the cerebral cortex:

• thought processes decrease;
• the tone of speech and timbre of the voice are distorted;
• the ability to remember changes;
• fine motor skills of the fingers are impaired.

Symptoms of changes in the subcortical substance are determined by the functions that the affected section performs, so limited atrophy has its own characteristics. With necrosis of the tissues of the medulla oblongata, respiratory failure, digestive failure are observed, and the cardiovascular and immune systems suffer.

If damage to the cerebellum is observed, muscle tone is disrupted and coordination of movements is impaired. With the destruction of the midbrain, there is no reaction to external stimuli. When the cells of the intermediate section die, a violation of the body's thermoregulation and a metabolic failure appear.

With damage to the anterior section, all reflexes are lost. When neurons die, the function of independent maintenance of life is lost, which usually leads to death. Often, necrotic changes appear from injury or long-term poisoning by toxins.

Severity

According to the international classification, there are different degrees of brain atrophy and locations of pathology. Each stage of treatment for the disease has its own symptoms:

1. The first degree is called cerebral subatrophy. At this stage, there are minor changes in the person's behavior and rapid progression to the next stage. Early diagnosis is important here, since the disease can be temporarily stopped and a person’s life span depends on the effectiveness of treatment.
2. At stage 2, the patient’s communication skills deteriorate, he becomes irritable and incontinent, and the tone of speech changes.
3. During stage 3, a person becomes uncontrollable, psychosis occurs, and morality is lost.
4. At stage 4, there is a noticeable lack of understanding of reality, the patient does not respond to external stimuli.

With further development, complete destruction occurs and vital systems fail. At this stage, it is better to hospitalize the patient in a psychiatric clinic, since he is difficult to control.

With moderate brain atrophy, changes in personality will be barely noticeable.

In children

Brain atrophy may occur in the child. It can be either congenital or acquired, it all depends on the age at which the disease began to develop. The acquired form appears after 1 year of life. The death of nerve cells in children begins for various reasons, for example, due to a genetic factor, different Rh factors in the mother and baby, infection with neuroinfections in the womb, prolonged fetal hypoxia.

Due to the death of neurons, cystic tumors and atrophic hydrocephalus occur. Based on where the cerebrospinal fluid accumulates, cerebral hydrocele can be internal, external, or mixed. A rapidly developing disease is usually observed in newborns, and this is associated with serious disorders in the brain tissue due to prolonged hypoxia, since the child’s body at this stage needs intensive blood supply, and a lack of nutritional components causes serious consequences.

What disorders affect the brain?

Subatrophic changes are precursors to global neuronal death. At this stage, it is necessary to promptly identify brain disease and prevent the rapid development of atrophic processes.

For example, with hydrocephalus of the brain in adults, the voids free from destruction are filled with the resulting cerebrospinal fluid. This type of disease is difficult to diagnose, but with proper therapy it will be possible to delay the development of the disease.

Changes in the cortex and subcortex are caused by thromophilia and atherosclerosis, which without treatment lead to hypoxia and insufficient blood supply. As a result, neurons die in the back of the head and parietal part, so treatment is necessary to improve blood circulation.

Alcoholic atrophy

Brain neurons are very sensitive to the effects of alcohol. The decay products poison the neurons, the destruction of neural connections occurs, and then gradual cell death is observed. This leads to brain atrophy.

As a result, both cortical-subcortical cells and brain stem fibers suffer. Damage to blood vessels occurs, shrinkage of neurons and displacement of their nuclei. In patients with alcoholism, self-esteem disappears and memory deteriorates. If he continues to drink alcohol, this will lead to severe intoxication of the body. And even if a person comes to his senses, Alzheimer’s disease and dementia will still develop in the future.

Multiple system atrophy

This disease is considered progressive. The occurrence of the disease includes 3 different disorders, combined with each other in different ways. But usually such atrophy manifests itself in the form of:

• parsionism;
• destruction of the cerebellum;
• vegetative disorders.

To date, the causes of this disease have not been identified. Diagnosis is made using MRI and clinical examination. Treatment includes supportive care and reduction of symptoms of the disease.

Cortical atrophy

Usually this type of disease is observed in older people and appears due to senile changes. It affects the frontal lobes, but the disease can spread to other parts. Signs of the disease do not appear immediately, but the result is a decrease in intelligence and memory, and dementia. An example of the impact of such a disease is Alzheimer's disease. Usually diagnosed using MRI.

With the diffuse spread of the disease, blood flow is disrupted, tissue restoration is suffocated and mental performance is reduced. A disorder of fine motor skills of the hands and coordination of movements also appears; the development of the disease changes the lifestyle and leads to absolute incapacity.

Cerebellar atrophy

With this disease, the cells of the “small brain” are affected and die. The first symptoms of the disease appear in the form of incoordination of movements, paralysis and speech impairment. With changes in the cerebellar cortex, vascular atherosclerosis and brain stem tumors, infectious diseases, vitamin deficiency and metabolic disorders usually develop.

Cerebellar atrophy manifests itself as:

• speech and fine motor impairments;
• headache;
• nausea, vomiting;
• decreased hearing acuity;
• visual disorders;
• reduction in the mass and volume of the cerebellum.

Treatment involves blocking the signs of the disease with antipsychotics, restoring metabolism, and using cytostatics for tumors. It is possible to eliminate the formations using a surgical method.

Diagnostics

The disease is diagnosed by instrumental analysis methods. Using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), it will be possible to examine in detail changes in the cortical and subcortical substance. Based on the completed images, an accurate diagnosis is made in the early stages of the disease.

Thanks to computed tomography, it is possible to examine vascular lesions after a stroke and establish the causes of hemorrhage, determine the area of ​​cystic formations, which disrupts the normal blood supply to tissues. Multislice tomography is considered a new method of research, with the help of which it will be possible to detect the disease at the initial stage.

Treatment and prevention

By following simple rules, it is possible to alleviate symptoms and prolong a person’s life. Once the diagnosis is made, it is advisable for the patient to remain in a familiar environment, since stress aggravates the condition. A person needs feasible mental and physical activity.

A balanced diet is important, you need to restore a clear daily routine. It is necessary to give up bad habits. You also need physical activity and mental exercises. A diet for atrophy involves avoiding heavy, unhealthy foods, you should not eat fast food, and drinking alcohol is strictly prohibited. The menu should include nuts, seafood and greens.

Treatment of brain atrophy involves the use of neurostimulants, tranquilizers, antidepressants and sedatives. This disease cannot be completely cured; therapy can only alleviate the symptoms. The choice of remedy depends on the type of atrophy and the type of impaired functions.

With damage to the cerebellar cortex, treatment is required to restore movement. You also need to use drugs that reduce tremor. Sometimes surgery is needed. Sometimes medications are used that improve metabolism and cerebral circulation, ensuring good blood circulation and protection against oxygen starvation.

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Brain atrophy (brain atrophy) is a disease in which nerve cells gradually die. The disease is also known as cortical atrophy, which means the death of cells in the cortex and cortex.

There are several options for brain atrophy of this pathology: local and diffuse. Local cortical atrophy is most often observed with Pick's disease or with traumatic damage to part of one of the cerebral lobes. Also, local atrophy of the brain can develop during tumor processes or as a result of a stroke.
Diffuse atrophy of the brain can be observed in infants, in people after traumatic injuries, in patients with chronic circulatory disorders, and in people with general post-traumatic disorder.

Disorder in children

Brain atrophy in newborns develops due to improper embryogenesis. The reasons for this condition lie in various genetic mutations that occur to the embryo in the womb. In this case, the child is born with a functioning brain, but from the first days of his life various symptoms of a decrease in the volume of brain tissue are observed.

These include:

Symptoms of brain damage depend on the intensity of the process and the depth of damage to a particular area of ​​the brain. Gradually, the symptoms of atrophy increase, internal organ failure develops and the child dies.

Brain injuries

The reasons for the development of brain atrophy after injury are the formation of a hematoma in the membranes or ventricles of the brain and its compression of brain tissue. Brain atrophy due to the formation of a hematoma is observed only in people with its chronic course. In this case, the hematoma slowly forms, and the symptoms of this condition depend on its location and size.

Tumor processes

The formation of various tumors often leads to the destruction of nerve cells. There are only three reasons for the development of dystrophic changes due to the appearance of tumor tissue:

• Compression of cerebral vessels and formation of the tumor’s own vessels;
• Compression of tissues and ventricle by tumor;
• Destruction of nerve cells by tumor cells.

Symptoms of atrophy development in this case are not specific. The main manifestation is headache, mainly at night. To it are added signs of damage to one or another part of the gm.

Chronic vascular insufficiency

Diffuse brain atrophy can be observed with chronic circulatory disorders. The causes of its occurrence are associated with disorders of the cardiovascular system. Most often, cortical pathology develops as a result of heart failure and low left ventricular ejection fraction.

The following stages of development of nerve cell atrophy due to vascular insufficiency are distinguished:

• Initial changes are expansion and thickening of the walls of blood vessels;
• Progressive failure - narrowing of most blood vessels and cerebral circulatory failure;
• The final changes are ischemic stroke, which develops due to complete blockage of the lumen of the arteries.

The initial stages of changes in the GM may not be evident. A person will only notice a slight decrease in memory and concentration. The main clinical symptoms occur only during an ischemic stroke, or with long-term progression of the disease. In this case, the functioning of all organs and systems of the body is disrupted, general cerebral symptoms of cell damage appear, and dementia develops.

Pick's disease

Localized cortical atrophy is also known as Pick's disease. With this pathology, destruction of cells and intercellular connections in the cortex is noted. Pick's disease does not affect all areas of the cortex, but only certain lobes. The most commonly affected lobes are:

• Temporal;
• Frontal;
• Parietal.

As the disease progresses, other lobes of the cerebral cortex may become involved.

Pick's disease most often occurs in older people. Women are more susceptible to this disease. Most often, the disease begins at the age of 50-55 years.
There are three stages of disease development:

• Initial changes;
• Progression of the disease;
• Dementia.

Symptoms of damage to the cortex and subcortical structures may vary, depending on the location of the lesion. Doctors distinguish early and late symptoms that correspond to the stages of the disease.

Early symptoms of Pick's disease include:

• Decreased concentration;
• Decreased attention;
• Memory impairment;
• Minor speech impairment;
• Slow speech;
• A person’s reluctance to engage in conversation;
• Deterioration of vision;
• Slight hand tremors;
• Impaired coordination of movements;
• Difficulty reading and writing.

As the disease progresses, pronounced symptoms of damage to one or another lobe appear. So, if Pick's disease affects the frontal lobe, a person develops the following disorders:

• Inability to remember information;
• Complete violation of writing;
• Lack of understanding of the text read;
• Inability to form a phrase correctly;
• Misunderstanding of information heard.

When the temporal lobe is damaged, the functions of the sensory organs are affected. Such violations include:

• Incorrect interpretation of tactile sensations - a person may confuse the keys and a book by touch;
• Inability to distinguish odors;
• Incorrect perception of taste - often such people can eat chalk, sand, paper, because they do not feel the difference between such objects and ordinary food.
• When the occipital part is affected, various disorders can be observed. In particular, this applies to vision and movement:
• Lack of orientation in space;
• Forgetting the way home and to the store;
• Incorrect color perception;
• Incorrect color perception - when a person sees a table, he can say that he sees a ball;
• Impaired coordination of movements;
• Progressive muscle weakness;
• Lack of desire to perform even the simplest movements - going to the kitchen for food, visiting the bathroom and toilet.

Pick's disease manifests itself not only with general cerebral symptoms, but also with a sharp deterioration in the functioning of internal organs. In particular, hormonal and nervous regulation suffers, which leads to a sharp deterioration in the functioning of all body systems. All chronic diseases can worsen, there is a deterioration in blood flow, problems with the kidneys, heart, liver, and lungs appear.

Pick's disease ends with progressive dementia and death of the person.

Photos of people with advanced Pick's disease differ from photos of ordinary people in their facial expressions. Expressions of alienation and indifference can be clearly seen on the face.

Therapy

Complete treatment of nerve cell atrophy is impossible. All medications can temporarily relieve symptoms and slow down the process slightly, allowing a person to live longer. The exception is surgical treatment of tumor diseases and removal of hematomas. Removal of a tumor or hematoma stops the development of brain atrophy. However, even modern surgical treatment cannot restore damaged brain cells. The functions of the damaged areas are taken over by other parts of the cortex.

Drug treatment of brain atrophy is aimed at:

• Increased blood flow to brain tissues;
• Reducing the volume of oxygen consumption by nerve cells;
• Strengthening the activity of nerve cells.

Treatment of atrophy can increase a person's life expectancy by 2-5 years.

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Brain atrophy is destructive changes that provoke depletion of organ tissue, deterioration of vitality, and loss of function. Accompanied by necrosis of nerve cells and severance of neural connections within chemically or functionally related groups. The volume of brain tissue decreases. Destructive processes spread to different parts - the cortex and subcortical (subcortical) areas. Often occurs in patients over 50 years of age. Diagnosed in newborn infants and children under one year of age.

The death of the cells that make up the brain provokes serious consequences. There is a violation of cognitive abilities, which include speech, spatial orientation, understanding, logical thinking, reasoning, calculation and learning. The disease causes neurological disorders and motor dysfunction.

Doctors give a negative answer to the question of whether cerebral atrophy, which occurs in the brain, affects life expectancy. Neurons die gradually. From the initial signs of pathology to a state where a large area of ​​the brain atrophies with the subsequent development of dementia, more than 20 years can pass. The death of a patient is usually caused by other diseases that cause malfunctions of the body that are incompatible with life.

Discussions on how long patients with atrophic lesions live do not correctly reflect the characteristics and influence of the pathology. Cerebral atrophy does not reduce life expectancy, but significantly impairs its quality. Leads to dementia and disability. The person is not capable of self-care and needs constant medical supervision and care. Often forced to spend the rest of his life in a specialized dispensary.

Atrophic changes occurring in the brain look like a compensatory increase in the volume of cerebrospinal fluid against the background of a decrease in the proportion of neurons (brain parenchyma). The condition resembles hydrocephalus with the difference that it does not reflect a focal loss of tissue volume, but progressive pathological changes in them. It is expressed in the partial loss of physical and mental functions, provoked by local damage to a certain area of ​​\u200b\u200bbrain tissue. There are 4 stages of the disease.

Grade 1 atrophy occurring in the brain is characterized by the absence of pronounced symptoms. A person may experience headaches, be depressed, emotionally unstable, become irritable and tearful. Copes with the usual tasks of professional activity and lives a full life. If treatment is not started, the mild initial form gradually develops into stage 2, when a person loses communication abilities and emotional connections with others.

Neurological symptoms are more pronounced - motor dysfunction, movement coordination disorder. Pathological processes lead to inevitable and irreversible dementia. The third degree is accompanied by death - necrosis of areas of gray and white matter from which the brain is built. The patient does not control behavior and often requires hospitalization and constant medical supervision. The picture of cerebral atrophy occurring in the brain in adults and elderly patients is illustrated by the following symptoms:

• incoherent, uninformed speech;
• loss of professional skills;
• loss of orientation within space and time period;
• loss of self-service skills.

The number of complaints about poor health decreases as the destructive processes of cortical atrophy increase. This is an alarming signal indicating a deterioration in the adequate perception of one’s own physical and mental state.

Types of pathology

The generalized form of cerebral atrophy involves multiple areas of nerve cells in the brain tissue. Diffuse brain atrophy is the uniform death of neurons in all areas of the brain structures. It develops as a result of arterial hypertension, which is characterized by damage to small vessels located in each part of the brain.

The initial signs of diffuse atrophy resemble a disorder. The progressive course leads to a rapid increase in symptoms, which makes it possible to differentiate the pathology at later stages. Unlike the cortical type, with diffuse atrophy the symptoms of damage to the controlling, dominant hemisphere are clearly expressed. With cortical subatrophy occurring in the brain, destruction and tissue destruction are only just beginning.

Subatrophy, which occurs in the brain, is a condition that precedes the stage of neuronal death. The mechanism of the disease has already been launched, destructive processes have begun, but the body independently compensates for the violations that have arisen. Subatrophic changes are accompanied by mild symptoms. Bihemispheric cortical atrophy occurs in the tissues of both hemispheres. Manifested by Alzheimer's syndrome.

Alcohol atrophy developing in the brain

Organic damage to the structures of the brain matter, which develops against the background of constant exposure to ethanol, is called toxic encephalopathy. Affects all parts of the brain. The cortical layers and cerebellum are especially sensitive to the negative effects of alcohol. Often leads to cranial nerve palsy. The frontal lobes are responsible for behavior, intelligence, emotions and moral qualities - properties that characterize a conscious personality.

Developing pathology causes atrophic changes in tissues and is one of the main causes of dementia. Dementia, as a consequence of alcoholism, is diagnosed in 10-30% of patients who abuse alcoholic beverages. A person becomes infantile and loses the ability for abstract logical thinking. As the disease progresses, the patient loses basic skills - the ability to brush teeth, tie shoelaces, and hold cutlery.

Multiple system atrophy

Covers multiple areas - the cerebellum, basal ganglia, spinal cord. If we understand in detail the topic of what atrophic degenerative changes are that affect the brain in a multisystem form, it is worth noting the progressive course (motor dysfunction) and autonomic failure syndrome. Manifested by loss of balance, tremors of the limbs, abnormal gait, erectile dysfunction. In the later stages, fainting, dizziness, parkinsonism, enuresis, and incoordination of movements are observed.

Cortical atrophy

Cortical atrophy is expressed by the death of neurons located in cortical structures in the frontal lobe. The frontal lobes are responsible for speech function, emotional behavior, determine personal characteristics, regulate human motor activity - planning and execution of voluntary movements. Cortical atrophy occurring in the brain negatively affects these abilities.

Cortical atrophy is predominantly associated with age-related destructive changes in tissues. Signs indicating cortical atrophy are behavioral disturbances and loss of intellectual abilities. With cerebral atrophy of the 1st degree cortical type, the patient is characterized by unmotivated actions that do not comply with generally accepted ethical standards.

A person cannot explain the reasons or assess the consequences of his actions. A characteristic sign that indicates atrophy affecting the frontal lobes is regressive changes and personality degradation. Cognitive abilities decrease, the ability to think, remember, and concentrate is lost.

Atrophy affecting the cerebellum

The cerebellum is the department responsible for motor coordination. Destructive changes are manifested by malfunctions of the musculoskeletal system, imbalance, disorders of swallowing functions and eye control. The tone of the skeletal muscle corset decreases. It is difficult for a person to keep his head straight. Enuresis is often observed.

Brain atrophy in children

When asked whether a child’s brain matter can atrophy, doctors give an affirmative answer. Atrophy that affects the brain in recently born children is often a consequence of birth injuries and abnormalities in the intrauterine development of the nervous system. It is diagnosed in the early stages of life - usually in the first weeks and months. They are treated with medications, physiotherapeutic and sedative procedures. The prognosis is unfavorable.

Symptoms

Initial signs of atrophy affecting the tissues and structures of the brain usually appear in people over 45 years of age. Pathology is more often diagnosed in female patients. Characteristic symptoms:

• Changing personality type. Apathy, indifference, narrowing of interests.
• Psycho-emotional disorder. Mood swings, depression, increased irritability.
• Impaired memory function.
• Reducing vocabulary.
• Motor dysfunction, impaired coordination of movements and fine motor skills.
• Deterioration of mental activity.
• Decreased performance.
• Epileptic seizures.

The body's regenerative reactions weaken. Reflexes are depressed. Symptoms become brighter and more expressive. Atrophic changes are manifested by Parkinson's and Alzheimer's syndrome. The following signs indicate a specific affected area:

1. Medulla. Deviations in the functioning of the respiratory, digestive, and cardiovascular systems. Defense reflexes are suppressed.
2. Cerebellum. Weakness of skeletal muscles, malfunctions of the musculoskeletal system.
3. Midbrain. Inhibited or absent reactions to external stimuli.
4. Diencephalon. Pathological deviations in the functioning of the thermoregulation system, disruption of the hemostatic and metabolic systems.
5. Frontal lobes. Secrecy, aggression, demonstrative behavior.

Signs such as impulsiveness, previously unusual rudeness, increased sexuality, decreased self-control, and apathy indicate malfunctions in the functioning of the main organ of the central nervous system.

Causes of the disease

Understanding the topic of what atrophy that occurs in the brain is, it should be noted that this is always a secondary diagnosis that develops against the background of long-term damaging effects on the central nervous system. Doctors name several reasons why brain cells die:

1. Genetic predisposition. The most important factor.
2. Intoxication of the body, repeated with high frequency, associated with the use of alcoholic beverages and drugs.
3. Injuries to the skull and soft tissues inside the skull.
4. Insufficient blood supply to tissues, cerebral ischemia.
5. Chronic anemia – insufficient oxygen supply. The condition occurs as a result of low concentrations of hemoglobin protein and red blood cells in the blood, which deliver oxygen to the tissues.
6. Infections that affect the nervous system - polio, meningitis, Kuru disease, leptospirosis, brain tissue abscess.
7. Diseases of the cardiovascular system - ischemia of the heart muscle, heart failure, atherosclerotic vascular pathologies.
8. Decortication due to coma.
9. Intracranial pressure. It is often the cause of cerebellar atrophy in newborns.
10. Large tumors that compress surrounding tissues and interfere with normal blood supply to parts of the brain.
11. Cerebrovascular disease is destructive changes in the vessels located in the brain.

If a person avoids mental activity, the risk of developing atrophic diseases occurring in the brain increases. Among the factors that increase the likelihood of the death of neurons located in the brain are smoking, low mental stress, chronic arterial hypertension, hydrocephalus, and long-term use of drugs that constrict blood vessels.

Diagnostics

To determine after which cases of atrophied areas of brain tissue appear, diagnostic studies are prescribed. The difficulty of diagnosing in the early stages prevents correct, timely treatment and full restoration of functions. During the examination, the doctor determines the level of reflexes and reactivity - the ability to respond to external stimuli. Instrumental and hardware methods:

• MRI, CT. Allows you to identify cystic and tumor formations, hematomas, and local lesions.
• Ultrasound, neurosonography - in newborns.
• Dopplerography. Reveals the condition and patency of elements of the vascular system.
• Angiography is an X-ray examination of blood vessels.

Neurophysiological studies, including electroencephalography (determining the degree of brain activity), rheoencephalography (determining the state of cerebral circulation), diagnostic punctures, are carried out to identify the causes that led to damage to the cells that make up the brain tissue.

Treatment prescribed for brain atrophy

It is impossible to completely cure. Complex therapy is carried out with the aim of restoring the normal functioning of the nervous system, regulating metabolic processes occurring in the cells of the medulla, normalizing blood flow and blood supply to tissues. The disease is treated with conservative methods. Correct drug therapy inhibits the development of the disease. Taking into account the symptoms, the neurologist prescribes drugs from the following groups:

1. Sedatives (calming agents).
2. Tranquilizers.
3. Antidepressants.
4. Nootropic drugs that stimulate thinking abilities.
5. Neuroprotectors that protect neurons from damage.
6. Antihypertensive drugs and antiplatelet agents that lower blood pressure and improve blood counts.

The regimen is maintained simultaneously with drug therapy. The patient is advised to take walks in the fresh air, dosed physical activity, a healthy, balanced diet, activities related to mental activity to improve mental abilities, and memory training.

Prevention

Pathology is often a consequence of arterial hypertension and atherosclerosis. In order to prevent negative consequences, it is recommended to promptly treat diseases that provoke atrophic processes in the tissues of the brain matter. Doctors advise giving up bad habits, leading a healthy lifestyle, loading the brain with logical tasks, and stimulating intellectual activity.

Brain atrophy is a long-term pathological process that, in the absence of correct therapy, leads to dementia, disability, and complete dependence on staff. Often the patient requires hospitalization. In order to promptly identify and stop the development of the disease, at the first alarming symptoms it is better to consult a neurologist.

The human brain is the most advanced mechanism in the world, which is made up of billions of nerve cells. Not all brain cells are functioning. Only 5-10% are working, and the rest are in a waiting state. They can be activated when the majority of neurons are damaged and die. But there are pathological processes in which not only functioning cells die, but also spare ones. At the same time, the mass of the brain decreases, and basic functions are lost. Doctors call this condition cerebral atrophy.

Atrophy

Brain atrophy in adults is not an independent disease, but a pathological process, which consists of the gradual death of nerve cells, smoothing of convolutions, thickening of the cerebral cortex, and a decrease in the size and weight of the brain. This process negatively affects all functions of the human body, but primarily affects intellectual development.

Normally, the brain undergoes changes with age, but they do not manifest themselves as severe symptoms and are minimally expressed. With age (at 50-55 years), the process of brain aging begins. By the age of 70-80, the mass of the organ decreases. It is with this process that typical changes in the character of old people are associated. Many of them become grouchy and irritable, impatience and tearfulness appear, and intelligence decreases. But physiological age-related atrophy does not lead to severe mental and neurological symptoms.

It is important that if pathological signs are present in elderly people or young patients, in children, then you need to look for the disease that caused the atrophy of the brain matter.

Causes of brain cell death

There are a huge variety of diseases of varying severity and pathological processes that lead to damage to neurons and their subsequent death. The main reasons for the death of brain cells are as follows:

• unfavorable heredity;
• severe traumatic brain injury;
• chronic intoxication of the body;
• chronic cerebral ischemia;
• genetic predisposition;
• neurodegenerative diseases;
• increased intracranial pressure.

All these reasons are discussed in more detail below, but from the short list it becomes clear that atrophy is not a disease, but a consequence of some pathology. In most cases, a sad outcome can be avoided if the diagnosis is made on time and appropriate treatment is prescribed.

Heredity and brain atrophy

Poor genetics are a common cause of brain atrophy in newborns. Genetic mutations do not always cause spontaneous abortion in early pregnancy. In some cases, the fetus is preserved, but the child is born with severe illnesses, which over time lead to complete degradation of the newborn. Various diseases with complications on the brain, maternal alcohol consumption and smoking during pregnancy, and infectious diseases have an adverse effect on the fetus. Often the cause of congenital atrophy is infection of the mother with toxoplasmosis in the early stages of pregnancy or Pick's disease.

Pick's disease is a rare disease. This is severe dementia with atrophy of predominantly the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain. Researchers associate the development of pathology with heredity. Specific therapy has not been developed. All methods used are aimed at slowing the progression of symptoms, but the effectiveness of treatment is low. The state of deep dementia occurs five to six years after the first signs of the disease. Life expectancy from the onset of the disease does not exceed ten years.

The risk of developing genetic mutations and transmitting hereditary diseases to a child increases significantly if parents are over 35 years of age. When planning a pregnancy at this age, it is advisable for both father and mother to first consult with a geneticist (even if the spouses are healthy), start taking appropriate vitamins in a timely manner and not refuse screenings that will help identify pathologies in the early stages.

Chronic intoxication

Atrophy of the frontal lobes of the brain or another type of disease can be caused by chronic intoxication of the body. The most striking example is alcoholic encephalopathy. The disease develops with the systematic consumption of alcoholic beverages against the background of vitamin deficiency. Added to this is a lack of oxygen, vital minerals, and the effects of toxins on brain cells. Treatment of acute alcoholic encephalopathy is complex, and the consequences of the disease are very severe. Chronic encephalopathy can develop quite slowly, progressing over many years. An atrophied brain is not the only consequence of chronic intoxication. Patients have impaired heart function, difficulty walking, paralysis, hemorrhages in the brain tissue, blurred vision, fecal and urinary incontinence, and coma.

Traumatic brain injuries

There may be atrophy. In such cases, as a rule, the process is localized. In this area of ​​the brain, neurons die, scars, cystic cavities or glial foci form. The process may be accompanied by the appearance of neurological symptoms and mental disorders. It is known that multiple severe head injuries are a precipitating factor for the development of Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease or Pick's disease.

Chronic cerebral ischemia

Cerebral ischemia is caused by impaired blood supply to the organ with gradually increasing various defects in its functioning. The causes of the development of the disease are closely related to atherosclerotic thrombosis, stenosis or embolism. A certain role is played by deformation of the arteries with a violation of their patency, hemorheological changes in the blood, and post-traumatic dissection of the spinal arteries. Signs of impaired blood flow are also disrupted in diseases such as hypotension, hypertension, cardiac disorders, kidney pathologies, blood, and so on.

At the stage of initial manifestations of ischemia, the patient often complains of headaches and constant fatigue, emotional instability, sleep disturbances, decreased attention and concentration, and dizziness. The phenomena are accompanied by mild neurological pantomimes, for example, discoordinated phenomena, oculomotor insufficiency, and memory loss. At the second stage, persistent memory impairment, instability when walking, and insufficiency of the facial and hypoglossal nerves begin. In the third stage, falls and fainting occur. Treatment at this stage is supportive; brain damage is irreversible.

Inflammatory diseases

The consequences of meningitis include epilepsy, fluid accumulation in the brain, hormonal dysfunction, mental disorders, persistent central nervous system dysfunction and paralysis. How to recognize the symptoms of meningitis in adults? Symptoms are usually acute. A very severe headache, abnormal bowel movements, nausea, general weakness appear, the legs involuntarily bend at the knee and hip joints when the head is tilted to the chest in a supine position. Treatment should be carried out only in a hospital and under the supervision of specialists. Lack of therapy or attempts at self-medication can lead to a deterioration in the patient's condition.

How to recognize the symptoms of meningitis in adults? The first signs will allow you to identify the pathology in the early stages and begin adequate treatment in time. Usually there is a sharp change in body temperature, headache, numbness in the neck and difficulty turning or tilting the head, lack of appetite, and frequent vomiting without relief. Sometimes a pink or red rash appears, which disappears with pressure. How to recognize the symptoms of meningitis in children? The main signs are the same fever, headache, apathy and lack of appetite. The lymph nodes become inflamed, increased sensitivity to light, diarrhea, and pressure in the eye area appear.

How to recognize meningitis in children? The symptoms of a dangerous disease can be confused with a common cold or flu. In children under one year of age, meningitis can be caused by Haemophilus influenzae; the disease can appear after pneumonia or sinusitis. In young patients, pathology in most cases begins with fever. Therefore, it is imperative to show your baby to the doctor at the first alarming symptoms. The risk group includes children under five years of age.

Neurodegenerative disorders

Neurodegenerative disorders account for about 70% of senile dementia. The exact causes of diseases belonging to this group are still unknown. Alzheimer's disease is a common form of senile dementia, although there are cases where the pathology develops before the age of 50. The causes of the disease are unknown, and there is no specific treatment. Only symptomatic therapy is carried out, which can mitigate the manifestations of the disease. But it cannot stop the progression of an incurable pathology. The same can be said about Pick's disease, which is more malignant.

A characteristic feature of Lewy disease (dementia with Lewy bodies) is mental disorders, for example, the appearance of hallucinations, significant changes in intelligence during the day. Memory suffers the least; with this pathology, visual and spatial perception is first disrupted, and attention suffers. Most often, such signs appear towards the end of the first year of the disease. The only treatment is levodopa drugs. The consequences of the disease are very serious. Persistent symptoms appear after a year of illness, and the total life expectancy does not exceed 7-10 years.

Increased intracranial pressure

As a rule, increased intracranial pressure is associated with disturbances in the outflow of cerebrospinal fluid from the skull. With increased pressure, frequent headaches, confusion, dizziness, visual disturbances, drowsiness, memory impairment, hypotension or hypertension, nausea, sweating, chills, pain in the spine and increased skin sensitivity are observed. Diagnosis is carried out using CT, MRI or ultrasound. If an accurate diagnosis is established, you first need to treat the disease that caused the increase in intracranial pressure. This may be osteochondrosis, atherosclerosis, hormonal imbalance, hypertension. Symptomatic therapy is also important.

Types of brain atrophy

Brain damage can be different (depending on the type of pathological changes and the extent of the process). With cortical atrophy, cortical neurons die. This is a common type of disease that accompanies common pathologies with a negative effect on the brain, for example, chronic intoxication, atherosclerosis, hypertension, and so on. This type of atrophy is at the heart of the brain changes that occur with age. Typically, only the frontal lobes are affected in this case.

Multifocal atrophy affects not only the cortex, but also the cerebellum, brainstem, white matter, pyramidal or extrapyramidal system. The symptoms of the disease are very severe. Patients develop extreme dementia, signs of Parkinson's disease, autonomic symptoms, and impaired motor coordination.

Diffuse atrophy is evenly distributed throughout the brain. This process is observed in neurodegenerative processes of varying severity, with intoxication and dyscirculatory encephalopathy. In certain diseases, only certain parts of the brain may succumb to atrophy, for example, the occipital lobe, cerebellum or basal ganglia.

Degrees of atrophy in adults

The degrees of brain atrophy change sequentially. At the initial stage, there are no clinical signs, but the disorder quickly develops and moves to the next stage. At the second stage, the patient’s communication with others quickly deteriorates. A person becomes conflicted, cannot maintain a conversation for a long time and cannot adequately perceive criticism. The third stage is the moment when the patient begins to gradually lose control over his behavior. Aggression, anger or apathy may appear for no reason. Behavior becomes questionable.

At the fourth stage of cortical atrophy of the brain and other types of pathology, a person ceases to perceive the demands of others and does not realize the essence of events. The final stage is a complete lack of understanding of the events taking place; everything that happens does not evoke any emotions. If the frontal lobe suffers, then already at the first stage of the disease indifference or euphoria, various types of mania, lethargy, sexual hyperactivity, and speech disorders may appear. In the final stages, the patient can be dangerous to society.

Signs of nerve cell death

An atrophied brain produces alarming symptoms almost immediately, although much depends on the type of disease. With cortical atrophy, the motor skills of the fingers deteriorate, memory deteriorates to the point of inability to remember anything, speech patterns, tempo and tone change, and the ability to analyze and think decreases. Other symptoms depend on the characteristics of the disease. Thus, tone and coordination of movements are impaired. A sign of diencephalon atrophy is loss of the ability to thermoregulate and disruptions in metabolic processes. With atrophy of the medulla oblongata, breathing, digestion, protective reflexes and heart activity are impaired. When the midbrain dies, the reaction to external stimuli disappears.

Frontal lobe syndrome most often succumbs to atrophy. Clinical symptoms largely depend on the pathology that caused the atrophy, but there is something in common. The patient cannot control himself at all, or self-control decreases, the person becomes irritable, loses the ability to perform creative activities, stops caring about others, and becomes selfish. Typically, patients are prone to rudeness and emotional breakdowns, and are impulsive. Intelligence and memory decrease, the atrophied brain makes the patient prone to primitive humor and hypersexuality.

Psychoorganic syndrome occurs in varying degrees of severity. With cerebral atrophy, it includes impairment of intelligence and memory, affective disorders and cerebroasthenic manifestations. The patient loses the ability to self-criticize and adequately assess what is happening, cannot acquire new knowledge and skills, and loses the previously accumulated amount of knowledge. Thinking becomes one-sided and primitive. The vocabulary decreases; when talking, the patient quickly switches to other topics and cannot remember the main idea of ​​the conversation. Memory suffers in all directions. The patient is often in a depressed mood, irritable, whiny and touchy, which is suddenly replaced by euphoria and optimism.

Dementia is an acquired dementia, which is accompanied by a decrease in the ability to perform all types of cognitive activity, the loss of all previously acquired knowledge and skills, and the inability to acquire new ones. Many diseases can be accompanied by dementia, including those that cause brain atrophy.

Atrophied brain in children

This pathology also occurs in children. Why is oxygen deprivation of the brain dangerous? This is one of the many reasons that cause brain atrophy in newborns. There may be other reasons: hereditary factors, various complications of pregnancy, infections (especially toxoplasmosis), birth injuries, infections in the first days of the baby’s life, the negative effects of alcohol, drugs, various medications that the expectant mother took during pregnancy (especially in the first trimester).

At birth, a child’s brain has plasticity; in case of almost any damage, it recovers quite effectively without consequences. The only important condition is timely diagnosis and treatment of the primary disease. Otherwise, the consequences of brain atrophy in children can be very severe (mental retardation, cerebral palsy, and so on).

Principles of treatment

With an atrophied brain, it is important for a person to provide comfortable living conditions and attention from relatives. To relieve symptoms, only symptomatic therapy is prescribed. When diagnosing the first signs of a dangerous condition, it is necessary to provide the patient with a comfortable environment. You cannot change your normal lifestyle. It is desirable that the patient perform all the same household chores and be provided with support and care from loved ones. It is not recommended to place a person in a medical facility. This will only worsen the patient’s condition and accelerate the progression of the disease. For cerebral atrophy and other types of disease, the use of sedatives, antidepressants and mild tranquilizers is prescribed. This therapy will help a person maintain a calm state of mind. The patient also needs to create conditions for active movement, he must continue to do normal activities every day. It is advisable for a person with this disorder to sleep during the day.

Consequences and prognosis

The pathological process has an unfavorable prognosis. Typically, severe illnesses lead to atrophy already in the last or penultimate stages. The symptoms of cerebral cortex atrophy (how long patients live is clear from the severity of the pathology manifestations) are quite complex. With Alzheimer's disease, which is similar in symptoms, patients expect to live shorter lives than their peers. After diagnosis, life expectancy is on average about seven years, but in most cases, death occurs not from the disease itself, but from its manifestations: falls due to incoordination, accidents and injuries due to negligence, road traffic accidents. Parkinson's disease is also incurable. Without medical care, patients live for about ten years. Almost 90% of patients live more than fifteen years without the need for outside help, and then need constant care. With brain atrophy in newborns, rehabilitation will be very difficult. Even so, it is likely that the child will be delayed in mental and physical development.

Prevention of brain atrophy

An atrophied brain is not a disease in itself, but a symptom of other abnormalities. There is no specific prevention. All activities are aimed at maintaining a healthy lifestyle, organizing proper nutrition, preventing atherosclerosis, and exercising physical activity.

brain structure During the aging process, the human brain decreases in weight and size, and soft tissue atrophy is observed. Natural processes caused by changes in the body occur differently for everyone. Patients in whom degenerative changes occur with increased activity are diagnosed with brain atrophy.

The condition is characterized by a slow, gradually progressive course of the disease. MRI for brain atrophy allows you to determine the degree of damage, as well as identify concomitant diseases: Pick’s disease and senile dementia.

Types of diagnosed atrophies

Although the main reason for the development of atrophy is hereditary and age-related factors, the disease can also appear for other reasons. As a result, the pathology is not exclusively a disease of older people. It can be observed in children and at any other age.

It is customary to distinguish the following types of brain atrophy:

• Cortical - as a result of the development of pathology, the cells of the cerebral cortex die. Grade 1 cortical cerebral atrophy on MRI appears as a focal lesion in the frontal lobes. Over time, degenerative changes begin to affect other parts.
  Cortical atrophy of the 2nd degree makes itself felt by structural changes in the cerebral cortex. At the same time, changes in the patient’s behavior begin to appear. Signs of atrophy of the cerebral cortex at the second stage can be determined by the patient’s forgetfulness, causeless irritability, and confusion.
• Multisystem - the pathology is characterized by vascular atrophy, degenerative changes affect the brain stem, cerebellum, and spinal cord. Changes are observed in patients with the syndrome, in the initial stages it manifests itself in autonomic failure. Tomography with contrast is used for diagnosis.
  To track trends in atrophy, MRI will have to be done several times. A repeat study is usually prescribed a month after the initial one.
• Diffuse - does not correlate with external manifestations. Determining the development of diffuse atrophy in the early stages is quite problematic. Often, errors in conclusion occur when diagnosing diffuse brain atrophy. Primary changes can easily be confused with ordinary disturbances in the functioning of the cerebellum.
  Pathological processes can be identified only in the later stages of atrophic changes. The diagnosis is made exclusively by magnetic resonance imaging.
• Cerebellar atrophy - manifests itself as neurological disorders of the cerebellum. Over time, various parts of the nervous system become damaged. Atrophic changes in the substance appear in the later stages of development. Subatrophic changes in the cerebral hemispheres and cerebellum are clearly visible on MRI.
  Tomography helps make a final diagnosis and exclude other neurological causes. In a child, cerebellar atrophy may occur due to injury.
• Posterior cortical - characterized by plaque-shaped deposits that cause cell death. The changes are concentrated in the parieto-occipital part. Signs of cortical atrophy appear in the patient's daily life. Mania and mental disorders, including those of a sexual nature, are observed. The manifestation of symptoms of the disease is a direct indication for the appointment of psychiatric therapy and placement of the patient in a hospital.
  Signs of moderate atrophy of the cerebral hemispheres in the frontoparietal region are manifested in the death of the temporal muscle and are clearly visible on the MRI image.

A diagnosis of first-degree cortical atrophy means that degenerative processes have just begun. Although there is no effective prevention or treatment for the disease, a healthy lifestyle can contribute to the patient's well-being.

Carrying out a brain examination for the presence of atrophy

Magnetic resonance imaging, using automated analysis of the results, allows us to identify even atrophies with minimal symptoms. At the initial stage, the pathology does not yet affect the patient’s behavior and well-being, so determining the presence of the disease is quite problematic.

Moderately expressed atrophic changes indicate progress in the development of the disease. The patient is prescribed therapy that can overcome the consequences of the disease.

As a result of the study, it may be revealed:

• Disorders of the frontotemporal cortex are one of the most striking signs of developing Alzheimer's disease. As it develops, cells in the frontotemporal regions on both sides are destroyed, which leads to loss of reason and disturbances in the patient’s behavior. Subatrophies of the pole of the temporal lobe may also indicate a neurological disease of Pike.
• Moderate cortical cerebral atrophy - occurs in older people, most often in the age period of 50 years and older. Destruction of nervous tissue is observed throughout the brain. Subatrophy of the cerebral hemispheres is a symptom of senile dementia. Small lesions do not in any way affect the normal activity of a person and his mental abilities.
• Manifestations of diffuse cerebral atrophy - development is provoked by brain injuries. Although at the initial stage the disease manifests itself as a neurological disorder localized in the cerebellum, over time the disease spreads to the rest of the brain.
• Focal subatrophy is characteristic of patients suffering from epileptic seizures. Atrophic changes in the structurally immature brain substance lead to aggravation of the problem and development of the disease into the chronic stage. The cause of the disease may be injuries and pathologies that interfere with normal blood flow (, etc.). In this case, after eliminating the catalysts, the seizures go away on their own.
• Atrophy of the cerebral cortex with a decrease in the caliber of the cortical gyri. Disorders are associated with a hereditary factor and may indicate the development of Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, etc. An additional sign that people pay attention to is the presence of vascular insufficiency.
• Generalized cerebral atrophy - can be observed in a newborn baby as a result of fetal hypoxia or infection. A number of rehabilitation measures are carried out for the child.
• Subatrophy of the frontal parietal lobes mainly begins as a consequence of injury or infection. Therapy is conservative. There is no specific treatment.

Modern treatment methods for brain atrophy include eliminating the factor in the development of degenerative processes. Drug therapy is prescribed to combat the consequences of the disease.