The cerebellum is part of the central nervous system, located between the cerebral hemispheres in the posterior lower region of the brain. This department is responsible for the coordination of movements, speech and the functionality of human muscles. Therefore, damage to the cerebellum, in the first place, is manifested in a violation of motor functions, speech disorders, decreased muscle tone. Such pathological conditions are caused by damage to the meninges as a result of injuries, neoplasms, strokes, etc. According to ICD-10, this disease has several codes: G46.4, G11.1 and G71.6, which includes various kinds of cerebellar pathologies.
Description and description of the problem
The cerebellum includes two hemispheres, between which there is a worm, these structures are divided into segments by transverse grooves, and there are also three pairs of legs. This part of the brain also consists of gray and white substances. The first forms the cortex and paired cerebellar nuclei.
The legs are the paths along which signals travel to and from the brain. The worm is responsible for regulating the center of gravity of the body, muscle tone, as well as for the balance of the body and its stability. The hemispheres provide movement of the eyeballs. Some scientists argue that the cerebellum plays an important role in the process of thinking, and is also associated with speech and mood.
Damage to the cerebellum is a set of pathological conditions that develop against the background of damage to the brain and lead to a disorder of its functions.
Causes of pathology
There are many reasons for the development of pathology:
- congenital malformations;
- complications of drug addiction;
- defeat by various neuroinfections;
- intoxication of the body;
- circulatory disorder in the brain as a result of atherosclerosis, ischemia, stroke;
- injuries of the occipital region and fractures of the base of the skull;
- benign or malignant neoplasms;
- infections of the nervous system.
Atherosclerosis of the vessels that provide nutrition to the cerebellum leads to their spasm, and this can provoke ischemic attacks. Cerebellar damage also causes stroke, which occurs due to rupture of a vessel with an increase in blood pressure, and hypertensive crisis. This problem is especially relevant in people of advanced age, the vessels of which are clogged with cholesterol plaques. Thrombosis or embolus of various genesis can also cause pathology.
Also, damage to the cerebellum of the brain can be triggered by metastasis of a cancer tumor or with its direct localization in the organ. In some cases, pathology is observed with a disorder of the outflow of cerebral fluid.
Symptoms and signs of the disease
In most cases, cerebellar disorder is manifested in a violation of coordination of movements, speech and muscle tone. In a person, twitching of the eyes as a result of eyeball trembling, explosive speech, uneven handwriting is observed.
The main signs of cerebellar damage include:
- movement disorder and muscle control;
- impaired walking and speech;
- irregular eye movements;
- pain in the head.
A stroke can affect any part of the brain. This pathology with damage to the cerebellum provokes the appearance of nausea, accompanied by vomiting, dizziness and headache, ataxia. Malignant neoplasms in the brain manifest as vomiting, in which there is no nausea, severe pain in the head and impaired coordination of movements.
The defeat of the cerebellar worm leads to a breakdown of static (stability, balance and body position). In this case, a person develops ataxia.
The violation of the letter, which manifests itself in pathology, you can see above.
Cerebellar ataxia
Ataxia - loss of muscle control as a result of damage to the cerebellum. This pathology can be triggered by a benign or malignant neoplasm, a virus, genetic mutations. In the latter case, we are talking about a rare hereditary disease, which is diagnosed in one person out of fifty thousand.
When the cerebellum is damaged, there is a loss of coordination of movements, blurred vision, difficulty in swallowing, constant fatigue, and mood changes. If the disease is not hereditary, then they talk about idiopathic ataxia. In this case, a person is disturbed in speech, fainting, arrhythmia, impaired erectile function, uncontrolled urination are observed.
When the cerebellar hemispheres are affected, the human body strongly leans toward the pathological focus, so it regularly falls. Such a disorder leads to the development of kinetic ataxia. It is expressed in the impossibility of performing precise movements.
Ataxia is often observed, provoked by toxins, which have a detrimental effect on brain cells. Pathology can be provoked by such harmful substances as ethyl alcohol, mercury, lead, solvents, barbiturates.
If the damage to the cerebellum was caused by viruses, then the symptoms of the pathology will subside within two months after the disappearance of signs of a viral infection. Most often, Coxsackie, Einstein-Barr viruses, chickenpox, Lyme syndrome and HIV infection provoke cerebellar disorder.
Congenital ataxia is characterized by a delay in motor activity. The child begins to sit and walk late, talk, he may lag behind in mental development. Usually at the age of ten, brain functions are compensated.
Cerebellar Syndromes
Cerebellar disorder can also occur in the following diseases:
- Tom-Jumenty Syndrome is a strong spreading of the fingers when trying to pick up an object.
- Barraquer-Lara disease, which occurs when the cerebellum is damaged as a result of cancer cell metastasis in bronchial cancer. In this case, intoxication of the body is observed.
- Tom's syndrome usually occurs after fifty years and manifests itself in the form of impaired movement, speech, handwriting, tremor of the extremities, muscle tone disorder.
- Feldman's disease, which is accompanied by early graying, trembling limbs. The disease is usually diagnosed in people after twenty years, it leads to disability.
- Fan-Turner syndrome is caused by a disorder of coordination of movements, mental retardation.
- Betten's disease is characterized by nystagmus, impaired coordination of movements and gaze, muscle hypotension, immunosuppression. Over time, a person adapts to these anomalies.
- Mann's syndrome is characterized by the development of ataxia and nystagmus.
- Goldstein-Reichman disease, in which there is a disorder of muscle tone, hypermetry, asynergy, trembling limbs, movement disorder.
- Zeeman syndrome is caused by the development of ataxia, a delay in the development of speech.
Diagnostic measures
Diagnosis of pathology begins with a study of the anamnesis, questioning and examination of the patient. The doctor checks reflexes, performs vestibulometry and electron-histagmography. Then he appoints such examinations:
- Laboratory blood test.
- Lumbar puncture to detect infection, foci of inflammation and the presence of a stroke.
- MRI of the head.
- Angiography of cerebral vessels.
The examination of patients is carried out by a neurosurgeon together with a neurophysiologist, otoneurologist, otolaryngologist, optometrist.
Therapy
The treatment of cerebellar lesions will depend on the cause of the development of the pathology, the patient's age and the degree of symptoms.
With a stroke, doctors carry out blood clot lysis. Then the patient is prescribed fibrinolytics, for example, Urokinase. To prevent the formation of thrombosis, resort to drugs such as Aspirin, Mexidol. They help improve metabolic processes in the tissues of the brain. To lower cholesterol, special medicines are used.
Antibacterial drugs are used to treat neuroinfections. With brain intoxication, doctors conduct detoxification therapy, forced diuresis, dialysis. If intoxication occurred as a result of the use of medicines or food products, then gastric lavage is carried out with the subsequent use of sorbents. If the patient has an outflow of cerebrospinal fluid, he is shown surgery with craniotomy.
Medicines
The most commonly used drugs in the treatment of cerebellar lesions:
- Nootropic drugs and antioxidants: “Piracetam”, “Actovegin”, “Phenibut”.
- Medicines for improving blood circulation: Sermion, Cavinton.
- Drugs that normalize muscle tone: "Mycodalm", "Sirdalut."
- Anticonvulsants, for example, carbamazepine.
- Vitamin complexes, which include B vitamins.
Also, in the treatment of this pathology, exercise therapy, massage, magnetotherapy, electrical stimulation, therapeutic baths, and a speech therapist are prescribed. Your doctor may also recommend mobility options such as a walker, cane, or wheelchair.
Forecast
The prognosis of the pathology depends on the cause of its development. For example, after removal of a benign neoplasm, the prognosis will be favorable. They also respond well to pathological therapy, which are associated with circulatory disorders and head injury, neuroinfections. Malignant tumors will have an unfavorable prognosis. In severe cases, a person may become disabled, he will need constant care.
Prevention
Doctors recommend avoiding injuries, not abusing nicotine and alcohol, not consuming for a long period of time and in large doses, medications. When the first symptoms of the pathology appear, it is necessary to undergo an examination and begin appropriate treatment.
Damage to the cerebellum is a consequence of neurological diseases or injuries. It is important to identify the cause of the pathology in a timely manner in order to conduct effective treatment and reduce the risks of complications. By following preventive measures, you can maintain your health for many years.