Member Comments are provided by individuals and reflect their personal opinions only. Under NO circumstances should you act on any advice or opinion posted in this forum. ALWAYS check with your personal physician before taking any action regarding your health! MedHelp International and our partners, sponsors and affiliates have no obligation to monitor any comments posted on this site, or the content and/or accuracy of such exchanges. MedHelp International does not endorse the views of any user.
Neurology (Expert Forum)
Cerebral degeneration
This forum is for questions and support regarding neurology issues such as: Alzheimer's Disease, ALS, Autism, Brain Cancer, Cerebral Palsy, Chronic Pain, Epilepsy, Fibromyalgia, Headaches, MS, Neuralgia, Neuropathy, Parkinson's Disease, RSD, Sleep Disorders, Stroke, Traumatic Brain Injury
Cerebral degeneration
by Julie, Oct 05, 1999 12:00AM
Hi - my mom is 58 years old. History includes heavy smoking. In the last couple of years we have noticed that she has become increasingly "jerky" in her movements. She is also slow to react and what we call "fally downy" (never falls just tips and catches herself - I do this too alittle at 36 yrs.) We are concerned because her mother (my grandmother) died before being diagnosed with anything but was "drunk" like in her movements and getting very ornary. (She died of a stroke at 84 years.) My mom is hesitant to go for testing (getting ornary too.) My sister said there is a blood test that can test for cerebellum degenerative diseases. Is this true? Perhaps we could talk mom into this - she won't go for MRI. Please advise. Are these problems hereditary? Anything I can do for myself as I age?
Doctor's Answer
by CCF neuro MD MM, Oct 05, 1999 12:00AM
I certainly think that your mother needs to be assessed, not necesarily by means of an MRI at this stage but blood testing for degenerative disorders and MRI might ultimately be appropriate.
There is a wide reange of degenerative disorders which should be considered, but more importantly the possibility of non-progressive treatable disorders should be conisdered.
It would be a tragedy to miss something treatable like thyroid dsisease simply because eveyone presumed that this was degenerative in nature.
For this reason your first step needs to be a detailed history and physical examination by a neurologist, and subsequent testing based on the outcome of this assessment. It is too early in the process to start jumping at specific diagnostic tests without first having an expert look at the big picture.
There is a wide reange of degenerative disorders which should be considered, but more importantly the possibility of non-progressive treatable disorders should be conisdered.
It would be a tragedy to miss something treatable like thyroid dsisease simply because eveyone presumed that this was degenerative in nature.
For this reason your first step needs to be a detailed history and physical examination by a neurologist, and subsequent testing based on the outcome of this assessment. It is too early in the process to start jumping at specific diagnostic tests without first having an expert look at the big picture.
Member Comments (2)
by Colin Timmins, Dec 21, 1999 12:00AM
Colud you provide information about olivopontl cerebral degeneration. Our friend is suffering from this disease and we would like to know more about it , partly so we know what to expect in the future
by littlebitt503, Mar 15, 2008 06:39PM
A related discussion, Cerebral Degeneration was started.
