Cerebral atrophy is the reduction in brain size caused by disease or aging. Generalized atrophy affects the entire brain, while focal atrophy affects specific regions. Mental exercises and drugs may delay or prevent atrophy. Diseases like Alzheimer’s and strokes can cause focal atrophy.
Cerebral atrophy, also known as cerebral atrophy, refers to the reduction in the size of the brain. Several conditions can cause the brain to atrophy, including disease and aging. The various types of brain atrophy include those classified as generalized and those classified as focal.
Generalized brain atrophy refers to a shrinkage of the entire brain. Doctors see this in patients as they age as patients begin to lose neurons and brain cells, resulting in a reduction in weight and brain size. In addition to the loss of neurons over time, neurons themselves can shrink and shrink, also causing brain atrophy.
There are theories that may help delay or reduce the impact of aging on this condition. This includes the use of mental exercises to help the brain maintain and replace networks of neurons. Continued research will be needed to see if drugs can help prevent generalized brain atrophy due to aging.
Other diseases can lead to generalized brain atrophy. Diseases that cause damage to various elements of the brain, such as brain cells, neurons, and axons, can lead to brain atrophy. This includes diseases such as multiple sclerosis, encephalitis and neurosyphilis.
In addition to generalized brain atrophy, diseases often associated with aging and various medical conditions can lead to focal brain atrophy. Focal atrophy occurs in a specific region of the brain. The affected area of the brain associated with focal atrophy causes the loss or decrease of functions controlled by that specific area of the brain.
Alzheimer’s disease and dementia are two of the diseases associated with aging that can be considered a form of focal brain atrophy. Those diagnosed with these diseases may find narrowing in specific lobes of the brain, such as the temporal and parietal lobes in cases of Alzheimer’s disease, and the atrophy may spread to other areas of the brain. Atrophy resulting from Alzheimer’s disease and dementia can lead to problems with memory, intellectual function, and learning ability.
Focal atrophy can occur from a variety of sudden conditions. Strokes are one such possibility. With a stroke, cutting off the blood supply to a specific part of the brain causes loss of brain cells and brain atrophy. The severity of stroke-related atrophy depends on the severity of the stroke and the treatment received. Other possibilities include traumatic brain injury from an accident or blow to the head and tumors.
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