Brain atrophy should be treated in the neurology department.

Written by Li Jian Wu
Pulmonology
Updated on September 15, 2024
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Cerebral atrophy is a type of vascular pathology. Patients need to visit the neurology department of a hospital for examination. Mild cases may lead to a decline in memory, while severe cases can affect intelligence and the ability to live normally. Patients with mild symptoms should timely follow medical advice to choose medications that nourish brain cells, and should also stabilize blood pressure, blood sugar, and blood viscosity. Engaging in intellectual games, exercising brain cells, having family companionship, participating in outdoor exercises to enhance immune capabilities, stabilizing the condition, and undergoing regular follow-ups are also advised.

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Written by Bian Jun Li
Neurology
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Cerebellar atrophy symptoms

The main functions of the cerebellum include maintaining bodily balance, controlling posture and gait, regulating muscle tone, and coordinating the accuracy of voluntary movements. Therefore, the primary symptoms of cerebellar atrophy involve ataxia, with patients displaying instability in standing, a staggering gait similar to that of a drunken walk; speech may manifest as cerebellar speech, or a chanting-like pattern; there can also be disorders in fine motor skills, where some precise movements cannot be accurately performed, and coarse movements may sometimes not be severely affected; additionally, there can be disturbances in eye movement, presenting as tremors of both eyes, and patients may experience symptoms of vertigo clinically.

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Written by Zhang Hui
Neurology
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Is brain atrophy hereditary?

There are many causes of brain atrophy; whether it is hereditary depends on the specific disease causing it. Most diseases leading to brain atrophy are not hereditary. For instance, some patients suffer brain atrophy due to Alzheimer's disease, where the neurons die irreversibly. This disease is mostly sporadic and does not have a clear hereditary tendency. Of course, a few cases of Alzheimer's do have a family history and may have a genetic propensity. Additionally, brain atrophy can also occur due to intoxication, such as from alcohol, carbon monoxide, or other toxic substances, and these cases definitely are not hereditary. Some patients experience brain atrophy due to cerebral thrombosis, which also lacks a genetic predisposition.

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Written by Yin Shun Xiong
Neurology
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Brain atrophy belongs to which department?

Brain atrophy is divided into physiological brain atrophy and pathological brain atrophy. If brain atrophy occurs as a person ages normally and matches their age, this is considered a normal condition. For example, the brain atrophy in an 80-year-old will definitely be more evident than that in a 60-year-old. Such brain atrophy is a physiological change and does not need attention. Secondly, there is pathological brain atrophy, associated with certain diseases, primarily related to neurology, such as frontotemporal dementia, Alzheimer's disease, etc. These conditions require consultation in neurology.

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Written by Zhang Hui
Neurology
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Does cerebellar atrophy cause confusion?

Cerebellar atrophy primarily affects the coordination functions of patients, leading to symptoms such as unstable walking and unsteady handling of objects with the hands. This condition does not have a significant connection with human consciousness, and does not affect the reticular structure of the brainstem or the cerebral cortex. Therefore, patients with cerebellar atrophy do not experience confusion or cognitive impairments. If a patient with cerebellar atrophy does exhibit confusion, it is important to consider other possible causes, such as electrolyte disturbances due to poor food intake or concurrent diseases, such as cerebral cortex thrombosis, hemorrhage, or brainstem infarction. It is necessary to conduct additional laboratory tests and cranial magnetic resonance imaging to confirm these conditions.

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Written by Zhang Hui
Neurology
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MRI manifestations of brain atrophy

Patients with cerebral atrophy display clear signs on cranial Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). The manifestations on MRI primarily include notably widened cerebral sulci, obvious atrophy of the cerebral lobes, and enlarged ventricles, which are typical presentations of cerebral atrophy. Cerebral atrophy can be categorized into atrophy of the cerebrum, cerebellum, and brainstem, each showing different characteristics on MRI, which requires careful differentiation. There are many causes of cerebral atrophy, such as degenerative diseases like Alzheimer's disease, which leads to cerebral atrophy. Cerebral thrombosis and poor cerebral vascular conditions can also cause cerebral atrophy due to insufficient blood supply to the brain. Additionally, drug toxicity and chronic alcoholism can lead to cerebral atrophy, which also needs to be differentiated carefully.