Is brain atrophy hereditary?

Written by Zhang Hui

Neurology

Updated on September 21, 2024

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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 Zhang Hui

Neurology

1min 11sec

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Can cerebral atrophy be cured?

Brain cells are irreversible, and once they die, they cannot regenerate. If brain atrophy occurs, it means that some brain cells have necrosed, and complete recovery is impossible. However, some patients with brain atrophy have no clinical symptoms because the brain's compensatory function is relatively strong. The usual causes of brain atrophy include the following. Firstly, Alzheimer's disease, which is the most common cause of dementia. Patients exhibit cortical brain atrophy, especially in areas such as the temporal lobes, frontal lobes, and hippocampus. Treatment is primarily symptomatic, and curing the disease is very difficult. Another cause is cerebrovascular disease. Long-term cerebral ischemia and arterial stenosis can also lead to brain atrophy. It is crucial to actively improve circulation and use anti-atherosclerosis medications for treatment. Additionally, some toxic encephalopathies, leukoencephalopathies, and drug toxicities can also cause brain atrophy. (Specific medications should be used under the guidance of a doctor.)

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Written by Zhang Hui

Neurology

56sec

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Can cerebellar atrophy be cured?

Cerebellar atrophy is difficult to cure. There are many causes of cerebellar atrophy, such as degenerative diseases of the nervous system. For example, olivopontocerebellar atrophy, which is caused by a disease with an unknown pathogenesis leading to the death of cerebellar cells and resulting in atrophy, currently lacks effective treatment methods and is incurable. Some cases are due to hereditary diseases, such as spinocerebellar ataxia, where patients also suffer from cerebellar atrophy, making it very difficult to cure. In addition, some patients who have been chronically drinking alcohol can also develop cerebellar atrophy due to alcohol poisoning. Although clinical symptoms can be significantly improved by discontinuing alcohol use and administering large amounts of vitamin B1 and B12, the atrophy in the cerebellum cannot be reversed as seen on imaging studies.

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Written by Zhang Hui

Neurology

39sec

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Does brain atrophy cause dizziness?

If it is brain atrophy, generally it does not cause dizziness; patients with mild conditions may not show any clinical symptoms. If it is severe, the main symptoms are those of dementia, such as possible sluggish reactions, memory decline, reduced computational abilities, impaired executive functions, and even psychiatric symptoms. The most common disease clinically observed is Alzheimer's disease. If the patient has cerebellar atrophy, even mild cases might not exhibit any symptoms. Severe cases can experience dizziness, primarily manifesting as feeling drunk, accompanied by unsteady walking, unstable standing, and other signs of ataxia.

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Written by Zhang Hui

Neurology

56sec

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What are the symptoms of cerebral atrophy?

Some patients with brain atrophy may not exhibit any specific clinical symptoms and are only found to have brain atrophy through imaging studies, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain. Some patients do exhibit clinical symptoms, and the common symptoms of brain atrophy mainly include the following manifestations. First, patients may experience a decline in memory function, such as frequently forgetting things they have just done, forgetting where they placed their wallet, or forgetting to bring keys when going out. Second, there may also be a decline in executive functions, such as difficulties in dressing or brushing teeth by oneself. Third, there may be a decline in computational abilities, to the extent that the patient cannot perform simple arithmetic. Additionally, brain atrophy may also present some psychiatric symptoms, such as hallucinations and incoherent speech.

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Written by Zhang Hui

Neurology

1min 14sec

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Is cerebellar atrophy serious?

Cerebellar atrophy is primarily a radiological finding, typically observed on cranial CT or MRI scans that show cerebellar shrinkage. The extent of cerebellar atrophy does not necessarily correlate with clinical manifestations; the severity of the atrophy may not align with the severity of clinical symptoms. If cerebellar atrophy occurs without any clinical symptoms and the patient remains agile and strong, then it is considered not severe. However, some diseases that cause cerebellar atrophy can be quite severe, such as multiple system atrophy, which has a subtype called olivopontocerebellar atrophy. This condition can lead to significant gait instability and limb ataxia, causing issues like inaccurate finger-to-nose testing and unstable object handling. The symptoms are definitely very severe, and the prognosis is very poor. Additionally, long-term alcohol consumption and alcohol poisoning can also cause cerebellar atrophy, which is also quite severe. In such cases, abstaining from alcohol and administering B vitamins are necessary for treatment, but the prognosis remains poor.