Brain leukoaraiosis is a rare disease. However, many people are interested in information about what constitutes an ailment. What are the causes of its occurrence? What are the dangers associated with the disease? What symptoms are worth paying attention to? Are there effective methods of treatment and prevention? This information will be useful to many readers.
Leukoaraiosis - what is it?
As already mentioned, such a disease in modern medicine is quite rare. Leukoaraiosis of the brain is a condition in which the white matter of the brain is affected - its density gradually changes. This pathology rarely develops as an independent disease and most often indicates the presence of problems with blood circulation.
Foci of leukoaraiosis in the brain can be scattered in the deep parts of the cerebral hemispheres, as well as surround the ventricles with uniform and uneven stripes. In any case, it is worthwhile to understand that such a condition is extremely dangerous for human health, because some changes in the structure and functions of the central system are non-negotiable.
The main causes of the development of the disease
Today, many people are interested in questions about why brain leukoaraiosis develops. The reasons most often lie in the violation of normal blood supply and nutrition of nerve tissues. For example, a similar condition is most often found in people suffering from cerebral ischemia, vascular dementia and some other diseases.
On the other hand, no less often pathology develops as a result of a stroke. In addition, people with Alzheimer's disease are subject to brain leukoaraiosis, which is accompanied by various atrophic processes, age-related changes and, in the end, leads to dementia.
Specialists also include Binswanger's disease, which is a very specific form of discirculatory encephalopathy. Naturally, atrophy of nerve tissues and other lesions of the structures of the central nervous system can also lead to changes in the white matter of the brain. And in some cases, leukoaraiosis develops against the background of diabetes mellitus and some other metabolic disorders in the patient's body.
Are there any risk factors?
Of course, the influence of some factors can trigger the development of such a disease. In particular, studies have shown that bad habits, in particular smoking and alcohol abuse, increase the likelihood of cerebrovascular disease and related problems.
In addition, brain leukoaraiosis often develops against the background of a sedentary lifestyle. The human diet also affects the state of blood vessels and trophism of nerve tissues - unbalanced nutrition is also referred to as risk factors. By the way, according to statistics, elderly people most often suffer from leukoaraiosis.
The first degree of leukoaraiosis and its symptoms
Many people are interested in questions about what signs are accompanied by brain leukoaraiosis. Symptoms in this case depend on the stage of development of the disease and the degree of damage to the nervous structures.
The initial stages of the development of the disease, as a rule, proceed without serious symptoms. Patients sometimes report increased fatigue, problems with sleep. Headaches, dizziness, and tinnitus periodically occur. Sometimes gait changes are possible - it becomes unstable. In addition, the level of cognitive activity and memory is reduced, problems with concentration are appearing. But most of these symptoms are usually attributed by people to stress and overwork.
What changes are characteristic for the second stage of the development of the disease?
The second degree of the disease is already accompanied by severe symptoms. In particular, patients notice a sharp decrease in working capacity, a decrease in memory, and a slowdown in mental and psychomotor processes.
Leukoaraiosis also affects personal qualities. A person becomes more emotional and irritable, often cannot control his actions or outbursts of aggression. Sometimes there are disorders of the genitourinary system - patients suffer from nocturnal enuresis.
3rd degree leukoaraiosis: main symptoms
In the third stage, the presence of a problem is no longer called into question. Symptoms in this case are the same as in the second stage, but much more pronounced. The patient has not only gait changes, but also balance problems - patients often fall, which only aggravates their condition.
Patients become emotionally unstable. Memory problems are exacerbated - often patients cannot remember recent events. Due to the defeat of certain areas of the brain, the entire body is disrupted. In particular, patients are often simply unable to control the act of urination.
If you have the slightest change or suspicion, you should consult a doctor. The sooner a disease is diagnosed, the easier it will be to get rid of it.
Modern diagnostic methods
Of course, in the presence of one or another worsening of the condition, you should consult a doctor. The diagnosis of cerebral leukoaraiosis can only be made by an experienced neurologist. First you need a consultation and examination by a specialist. Then you will need to pass standard urine and blood tests.
If you suspect a change in the structure of the white matter of the patient, they are primarily sent for angiography. This is an X-ray technique that allows you to explore and evaluate the state of the vessels of the central nervous system. Computed tomography is also mandatory. By the way, foci of leukoaraiosis with such an examination look like areas with reduced density. In addition, the doctor can prescribe magnetic resonance imaging - during the study, the foci look like areas with an altered, hyper-intense signal.
Leukoaraiosis of the brain: treatment
After the doctor makes a final diagnosis, he will help you choose the appropriate treatment. In fact, in most cases, some kind of special therapy is not required. The main thing in this case is to correctly determine the cause of structural changes in white matter and eliminate it.
However, there are some drugs that doctors prescribe for people with a diagnosis of brain leukoaraiosis. First of all, treatment includes drugs that activate metabolism in nerve tissues and improve blood circulation. For example, patients are often recommended to take drugs that inhibit phosphodiesterases, in particular, Vinpocetine and Flunarizine. Combined therapy includes the use of adrenergic blockers, for example, “Nicergoline”. These drugs have vasodilating properties and positively affect blood circulation in the areas of leukoaraiosis.
In addition, patients are prescribed medications that improve metabolic processes in nerve tissues. For example, drugs such as Piracetam, Oxiracetam, and Neotropil are considered quite effective. In fact, studies of the effects of these drugs are still ongoing. Nevertheless, medical practice has proved that such a complex of drugs has a positive effect on the foci of changes in white matter, providing nerve cells with nutrition, protection and, accordingly, increasing their survival.
The prognosis for patients is quite positive, although in this case it all depends on the stage at which leukoaraiosis began to be treated. What is the danger of this ailment? In the absence of therapy, the development of vascular dementia is possible, as well as permanent damage to the central nervous system.
Are there effective prevention methods?
Unfortunately, there is no vaccine or medicine that can permanently protect against a disease such as brain leukoaraiosis. Therefore, the only method of prevention is a correct lifestyle. Do not give up physical activity - often walk, visit the gym, move to the best of your own body. Be sure to follow the diet - the diet should be balanced and saturated with healthy, nutritious substances. And, of course, it is worth limiting the amount of alcoholic drinks, stop smoking and other bad habits.
On the other hand, all cerebrovascular diseases should be treated promptly. Doctors also recommend that all elderly patients undergo periodic examinations to assess the functioning of the circulatory and nervous systems.