According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, atrophy of the brain is common in many neurological conditions. In atrophy, some neurons, or brain cells, have died and the connections between them have been lost. This can happen through the brain, or only in a single location. If the damage covers most of the brain, it is common for the brain to shrink. If the cell death is limited to a specific area, the only functions that are affected are those situated in the damaged portion.
Atrophy and Normal Aging
Atrophy does not happen only as a result of an illness or lesion, according to Dr. P.A. Auke and colleagues from the Department of Radiology in Utrecht, Netherlands. In healthy individuals, the volume of the brain starts to decline as early as the first stages of adulthood. Although the condition might present itself early, it usually speeds up only as a result of old age. Brain atrophy attributed to normal aging may not show any symptoms, sometimes making early diagnosis hard. Such factors as diabetes, high blood pressure, alcoholism, obesity and smoking cigarettes may accelerate the course of the illness, according to a study published in the 29th volume of “Cerebrovascular Diseases” in 2009.
Atrophy Diagnosis
According to Dr. Jeffrey L. Gunter from the Mayo Clinic, brain atrophy is typically diagnosed by magnetic resonance imaging, or MRI. These scans provide detailed pictures of the structure of the body and can also be used to investigate the brain. A study published in the “Journal of Magnetic Resonance Imaging” in the July 2003 tracked the changes in the volume of the brain with two time-separated MRI scans. The team of researchers involved in the study then used the results of the scans to compare the rate at which the surface area of the brain was diminishing. After the comparisons, the researchers found that those individuals who suffer from brain atrophy undergo this process at an accelerated pace when compared to healthy controls.
Brain Atrophy Symptoms
According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, the symptoms of brain atrophy depend largely on the size of the damage and its location. As a result, the patient might suffer, for example, from problems in memory, language, learning and attention depending upon the severity and location of the damage. Moreover, seizures have also been associated with the advancement of brain atrophy.
Associated Diseases
The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke reports that brain atrophy is a common feature that presents itself alongside many diseases and conditions that affect the brain. Some of these include stroke, traumatic brain injury, chronic HIV, cerebral palsy, Huntington’s disease and ischemic infarcts. It is also common for brain atrophy to exist along with such degenerative diseases as Alzheimer's, dementia and multiple sclerosis. The pattern of brain atrophy and its rate of progression depend mostly on the disease with which it co-exists.
Brain Atrophy Treatment and Prognosis
Treatment for brain atrophy focuses on keeping patients comfortable and, if possible, preventing further damage. It is important to teach the patient how to adjust to life with declining brain functions and what to expect as a result of the disease. A neuropsychologist can teach patients to use limited cognitive abilities in a way that maximizes the neuropsychologist's potential to help patients cope with brain atrophy. Unfortunately, in many cases, the condition of the patient will progressively decline as the damage to the brain becomes more extensive.
References
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke: NINDS Cerebral Atrophy Information Page
- "Cerebrovascular Diseases"; White Matter Lesions and Brain Atrophy: More Than Shared Risk Factors? A Systematic Review; Auke P.A. Appelman et al.; 2009
- "Journal of Magnetic Imaging"; Methodological Considerations for Measuring Rates of Brain Atrophy; Jeffrey L. Gunter, Ph.D., Maria M. Shiung, B.A., Armando Manduca, Ph.D., and Clifford R. Jack, Jr., M.D.; July 2003
