Is brain atrophy the same as cerebral palsy?

Written by Shi De Quan
Neurology
Updated on November 08, 2024
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Brain atrophy is definitely not cerebral palsy. Brain atrophy is generally caused by various reasons in adults leading to a reduction in brain volume. This is often seen in cognitive impairments or memory decline in adults. Cerebral palsy, on the other hand, is generally caused by congenital diseases or perinatal reasons, leading to damage to the central nervous system. It is a disease characterized primarily by non-progressive motor disorders. Therefore, it manifests as spastic diplegia, hemiplegia, athetosis, and symptoms of the extrapyramidal system, mainly focusing on motor disorders.

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Written by Liu Hong Mei
Neurology
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Which areas are treated with moxibustion for brain atrophy?

Brain atrophy can be treated with moxibustion at acupuncture points on the head and face, such as the Renzhong, Yintang, Baihui, Fengchi, and Tianzhu points. These points help in revitalizing the brain and supplementing the brain and spinal cord. Brain atrophy is a chronic cerebral vascular disease and falls under the categories of dementia and amnesia in Chinese medicine. Acupuncture can be helpful in the early stages of brain atrophy. Treatments can also be combined with moxibustion, physiotherapy, symptomatic treatment, massage, etc. Acupuncture points on the limbs, such as Neiguan, Shenmen, Hegu on the upper limbs, and Sanyinjiao, Zusanli on the lower limbs can be used to nourish the liver and kidneys, and calm the mind.

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Written by Zhang Hui
Neurology
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Does cerebellar atrophy cause dizziness?

Patients with cerebellar atrophy may experience dizziness. In clinical practice, multiple system atrophy that leads to cerebellar degeneration and spinal cerebellar ataxia often present with symptoms of dizziness. Generally, dizziness is very common when there is a lesion in the cerebellum. However, some patients may show significant cerebellar atrophy on imaging but actually do not exhibit symptoms of dizziness. Therefore, the condition can vary from person to person. There are many causes of cerebellar atrophy, including some cerebrovascular diseases that can lead to cerebellar atrophy, with symptoms such as dizziness and ataxia. The key to treating cerebellar atrophy is to properly identify and address the underlying cause.

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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 Zhang Hui
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How to treat mild cerebral atrophy?

First, it is essential to eliminate psychological fear. Many people with mild cerebral atrophy show no clinical symptoms, so there is no need to be overly anxious. Second, it is important to control underlying diseases, especially maintaining control of blood pressure, blood sugar, blood lipids, and homocysteine levels. Abnormalities in these indicators can lead to cerebral ischemia, which in turn may exacerbate cerebral atrophy. Third, make an effort to continually learn new knowledge and master new skills to increase the brain's knowledge reserves and prevent the worsening of cerebral atrophy and the decline in intelligence. In addition, regularly exercising to improve cerebral blood circulation also has therapeutic effects.