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Cerebral Atrophy

HI,

My Mother is 51 yrs old. Just 1 yr she was feeling that she is losing her balance while walking. Also she feels that she cant speak/pronounce the words correctly.

Then I went to a Doctor ( A Neuro specialist). He did a MRI Scan & gave the report as follows :

IMPRESSION : MRI reveals:
0. Multiplanar multiecho MR of the brain was performed. Screening T2W sagittal images through the entire spine were also acquired No space occupying lesion or focal/diffuse area of signal abnormality is detected in the cerebral
parenchyma.
1. Cerebellar atrophy. Brain stem and spinal cord appear normal.
2. Old anterior wedge fracture of D12 vertebral body with focal gibbus deformity.
3. Changes of diffuse cerebral atrophy is seen in the form of widening of sulcal spaces, basal cisterns and sylvian fissures.
4. The cerebral hemispheres, brainstem and cerebellum otherwise appear normal and show no focal or
diffuse area of signal abnormality or enhancement. The gray-white matter differentiation is maintained.
The basal ganglia and thalami appear normal.
5. The Circle-of- Willis appears normal. Mainstem MCAs, ACAs and PCAs appear normal. The sylvian
branches appear normal. No evidence of an aneurysm / vascular malformation is seen. The basilar and
vertebral arteries appear normal.
6. The visualised vertebral and right common carotid arteries in the neck appear normal. Atherosclerotic
plaque is noted at the bifurcation of common carotid artery extending in to the proximal part of internal
and external carotid areteries on left, however no evidence of any significant narrowing. Rest of the
visualised segements of left internal and external carotid areteries appear unremarkable.
7. Right internal and external carotid artery in the neck appears normal. The carotid bifurcation appears
normal on right. The leA does not show any significant narrowing in its proximal portion on right.
Changes of diffuse cerebral and cerebellar atrophy.
8. No other significant abnormality is seen in the brain parenchyma. No acute ischemic lesion / haemorrhage or space occupying lesion is seen.
9. Atherosclerotic plaque at the bifurcation of common carotid artery extending in to the proximal part of internal and external carotid areteries on left, however no evidence of any significant narrowing .

So, i have a question,
1. whether ther is any treatment through which she can recover back to earlier stages ??
2. What can we do to atleast not increase the immense of that disease further ??

Please send me a reply to this. Eagerly waiting for ur reply.

Thanks & Regards,

Vijay Dhoot
(INDIA)
2 Responses
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Avatar universal
My husband, 66 yo, Has c/o persistent headaches for the past 3 months. Initially he thought this could be sinus headaches-but did get concerned because the frequency & intensity of the pain had increased. He has never had a good memory but I feel his memory loss has worsened, however, he did not tell his MD this..He thought part of this could be due to a snus infection. His MD ordered an MRI, placed him on Avelox x 10 days, Clarinex daily and Ultram 200 mgm daily & ordered an MRI of the brain. The Ultram 200 was too strong and it was decreased to 100 mgm daily. THE MRI RESULTS ARE FOLLOWING::

FiINDINGS : The 4th,3rd, and lateral ventricles are mildly increased in size with a proportionate increase in size of the cortical sulci & subarachnoid spaces of the posterior fossa-indicative of diffuse cerebral & cerebellar atrophy.
There is no evidence of midline shift or mass effect.
No focal areas of abnormal increased or decreased signal intensity are noted involving the brain parenchyma.
Following administration of Gadolineum DTPA there is no evidence of abnormal contrast enhancement.
CONCLUSION: MILD DIFFUSE CEREBRAL & CEREBELLAR ATROPHY.
1) What possible diagnosis (?more than 1 possibly?) are we looking at here ?
2) Is this an aggressive or slow progression illness ?
3) Could this be a result of mini stroke - although he has not had any other symptoms-that I am aware of..
I appreciate your assistance and opinion as soon as you are able...THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR TIME...
Sincerely ~
Cheryl E
MY  EMAIL ADDRESS IS :TOOLTIME_RN***@****
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi there.

Your mother is still quite young to attribute these atrophies to the usual nerve degeneration of aging.  There can be an underlying microscopic vascular problems in the brain causing some form of starvation in blood supply (like small strokes) that may be accelerating the atrophy.  Addressing this problem would include controlling all the other systemic factors that can result to this, such as controlling blood pressure, controlling metabolic diseases such as diabetes, and improving circulation with rehabilitation.  

This is really a tough condition to treat, and it is best that you keep in close contact with her doctors.  

Take care and I'm wishing her all the very best.
Helpful - 0
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