blockage in basilar artery

[DP1020]

My uncle was diagnosed in 2004 after having some strange and sudden cognitive symtoms as having a narrowing of the basilar artery... They put him on Aricept and a blood thinner. (Aricept I don't know why since they have ruled out Alzheimer's twice now) but he got miraculously better. In fact he said he felt more clear minded than any time in his adult life (he's 69 or 70 now). But recently he has developed strange behaviors again. For instance he can't gell a joke from seriousness. He has trouble making logical connections between things. It doesn't appear to affected him memory at this point. He also has trouble separating his thoughts from previous thoughts when trying to answer a question. They told him the medication would only help for about 5 years and here it is 4 years later. What can be done to help him now? I know there are new prosedures for unblocking arteries in the brain as the do the heart. At minimum, who should he see. It's been recommended he see a neuropsychiatrist, but what good with that do?

[Abhijeet Deshmukh, MD]

Hello.

A neuropsychiatrist will be able to locate the area of the brain which is dysfunctional. It could be due to the basilar artery stenosis (narrowing). Or, these could be symptoms due to some other pathology in the brains areas (especially the frontal lobe).

You may also discuss the option of vessel recanalization with your neurologist. Reports of improvement are there after recanalization procedure.

The memory may not get affected initially.

Regards

[DP1020]

Sorry for all the typos!!!!