Damage to the cerebellum can be caused by a variety of consequences. This is due to the fact that it is associated with almost all parts of the human body, in particular, with the nervous system. As a rule, numerous unpleasant symptoms and the appearance of problems with this organ are most often called cerebellar ataxia. It manifests itself in the form of a disorder of coordination, imbalance, etc. At the same time, a person cannot be in the same position for a long time.
Some of the symptoms of cerebellar damage can be detected with the naked eye. However, more complex hidden signs can only be detected using special laboratory tests. The effectiveness of the treatment of these pathologies depends on the causes of the lesions.
Main functions
The cerebellum does a tremendous amount of work. First of all, it supports and distributes the muscle tone, which is necessary to keep the human body in balance. Thanks to the work of this organ, a person can perform a motor function. Therefore, speaking about the function and symptoms of cerebellar damage, the doctor, first of all, checks the coordination of the person. This is because this organ helps maintain and distribute muscle tone at the same time. For example, while bending a person’s leg, it simultaneously strains the flexor and relaxes the extensor.
In addition, the cerebellum distributes energy and minimizes the contraction of the muscles that are involved in the performance of a particular job. In addition, this body is necessary for motor training. This means that during training or the development of professional skills, the body remembers which muscle groups are contracting and straining.
If there are no symptoms of cerebellar damage, and its functioning is carried out in normal mode, then in this case a person feels good. If at least one of the sections of this organ suffers from damage, then it becomes more difficult for the patient to perform certain functions, or simply he cannot move.
Neurological pathology
Due to the defeat of this important organ, a huge number of serious ailments can develop. If we talk about neurology and symptoms of cerebellar damage, it is worth noting the most important danger. Damage to this organ leads to circulatory disorders. The appearance of this pathology can lead to:
- Ischemic stroke and other heart diseases.
- Multiple sclerosis.
- Traumatic brain injury. In this case, the lesion should not always affect the cerebellum, enough if at least one of its connections is broken.
- Meningitis.
- Degenerative diseases , as well as abnormalities caused in the nervous system.
- Intoxication.
- An overdose of certain medications.
- Vitamin B12 deficiency.
- Obstructive hydrocephalus.
In neurology, symptoms of cerebellar damage are quite common. Therefore, first of all, it is necessary to visit a specialist in this particular area.
Cause of cerebellar disease
In this case, we can talk about injuries, congenital underdevelopment of this area, circulatory disorders, the consequences of prolonged drug use. Also, this can happen due to poisoning by toxins.
If a patient is diagnosed with a congenital defect in the development of this organ, then in this case we are talking about the fact that a person suffers from a disease called Marie ataxia. This pathology refers to dynamic ailments.
Symptoms of damage to the cerebellum and pathways can indicate a stroke, trauma, cancer, infection and other pathologies that occur in the nervous system. Similar ailments are encountered by people who have had a fracture of the base of the skull or damage to the occipital region of the head.
If a person suffers from atherosclerotic vascular damage, then this can also provoke a violation of the blood supply to the cerebellum. However, this does not end the list of all ailments. Damage to the carotid artery and vascular spasms that turn into hypoxia can also provoke a similar condition.
In addition, it must be borne in mind that most often the symptoms characteristic of cerebellar lesions occur in older people. This is because their vessels lose elasticity over time and are affected by atherosclerosis and cholesterol plaques. Because of this, their walls do not withstand strong pressure and begin to burst. Similar hemorrhage provokes tissue ischemia.
Signs of pathology
If we talk about the main symptoms of damage to the cerebellum of the brain, then ataxia is noted among them, which can manifest itself in different ways. However, most often a person’s head and body begin to tremble, even with a calm body position. Muscle weakness and poor coordination are manifested. If one of the cerebral hemispheres is damaged, then the human movements will be asymmetric.
Also, patients suffer from tremors. In addition, severe problems are observed in the process of flexion and extension of the limbs. Many have hypothermia. If symptoms occur that are characteristic of a cerebellar lesion, the patient may experience motor impairment. In this case, when moving toward a specific goal, a person begins to perform pendulum-reversal actions. In addition, a problem with the cerebellum can cause hyperreflexia, impaired gait and severe changes in handwriting. It is also worth considering the types of ataxia of this organ.
Static locomotor
In this case, violations are most pronounced when a person is walking. Any movement brings heavy loads, because of which the body becomes weaker. In this case, it is difficult for a person to be in a position where the heels and toes of the legs are in contact. It’s hard to fall forward, backward, or swing sideways. In order to take a stable position, a person needs to widely spread his legs. A very shaky gait is observed, and apparently the patient, who has symptoms of cerebellar damage, resembles a drunk. When cornering it can be drifted to the side, up to the fall.
In order to diagnose this pathology, it is necessary to conduct several tests. First of all, you need to ask the patient to go in a straight line. If he has the first signs of static-locomotor ataxia, then he will not be able to perform this simple procedure. In this case, he will begin to deviate strongly in different directions or spread his legs too wide.
Also, in order to identify the main symptoms of cerebellar damage, additional tests are performed at this stage. For example, you can ask the patient to stand up sharply and turn 90 ° to the side. A person whose cerebellum is affected cannot complete this procedure and will fall. With a similar pathology, the patient also cannot move with a step. In this case, he will dance, and the body will begin to slightly lag behind the limbs.
In addition to pronounced problems with gait, there is a strong muscle contraction when performing even the most simple movements. Therefore, in order to determine this pathology, you need to ask the patient to abruptly rise from a prone position. At the same time, his hands should be crossed on his chest. If a person is healthy, then his muscles will contract simultaneously, he will be able to quickly sit down. With the occurrence of ataxia and the first symptoms of damage to the cerebellum, it becomes impossible to simultaneously strain the hips, trunk and lower back. Without the help of hands, a person cannot take a sitting position. Most likely the patient will simply fall back.
You can also ask a person to try to bend back while standing. At the same time, he must throw his head back. If a person is in a normal state, then in this case he will involuntarily bend his knees and unbend in the hip area. With ataxia, such bending does not occur. Instead, a person falls.
Dynamic cerebellar ataxia
In this case, we are talking about problems with the smoothness and dimensionality of human movements. Ataxia of this type can be one-sided or two-sided, depending on which hemispheres have abnormalities. If we talk about what symptoms are observed with damage to the cerebellum and the manifestation of dynamic ataxia, then they are similar to those described above. However, if we are talking about unilateral ataxia, then in this case, problems with movement or the performance of test tasks in a person will only be on the right or left side of the body.
To identify a dynamic form of pathology, it is worth paying attention to some features of human behavior. First of all, he will have a strong trembling in the limbs. As a rule, it intensifies at the moment of completion of the movement that the patient performs. Being in a calm state, a person looks absolutely normal. However, if you ask him to take a pencil from the table, then at first he will reach out without any problems, but as soon as he starts to take the object, his fingers will tremble strongly.
When determining the symptoms of cerebellar damage, the diagnosis includes additional tests. With the development of this pathology in patients, the so-called overshooting and mimicking is observed. This is because the human muscles begin to contract disproportionately. The flexors and extensors work much stronger. As a result, a person cannot fully perform the simplest actions, for example, put a spoon in his mouth, fasten his shirt or tie a knot on the laces.
In addition, a clear sign of this violation is a change in handwriting. Most often, patients begin to write coarsely and unevenly, and the letters become zigzag.
Also, when determining the symptoms of damage to the cerebellum and pathways, it is worth paying attention to how the person is talking. With the dynamic form of the disease, a symptom appears, which in medical practice is called chanted speech. In this case, the person speaks as if by pushing. He divides phrases into several small fragments. In this case, the outwardly sick person looks as if he is broadcasting something to a large number of people from the rostrum.
Other phenomena characteristic of this ailment are also observed. They also relate to patient coordination. Therefore, the doctor conducts a number of additional tests. For example, in the standing position, the patient should straighten and raise his arm to a horizontal position, take it to the side, close his eyes and try to touch his nose with his finger. In normal condition, it will not be difficult for a person to perform this procedure. If he has ataxia, then he will always miss.
You can also try to ask the patient to close his eyes and touch the tips of two index fingers to each other. If there is a problem in the cerebellum, the patient will not be able to match the limbs in the right way.
Diagnostics
Considering the symptoms of cerebellar damage and research methods, it is worth paying attention that for any disturbances in the brain, you should immediately contact a neurologist. He conducts a series of tests in order to clarify how superficial and deep reflexes work for a person.
If we talk about hardware research, then it may be necessary to perform electron-histogram and vestibulometry. A general blood test is required. If a specialist suspects an infection in the cerebrospinal fluid, then a lumbar puncture is performed. Check markers for stroke or inflammation. Additionally, an MRI scan of the brain may be required.
Treatment
The success of therapy directly depends on the causes of this pathology. Therefore, speaking about the symptoms and treatment of cerebellar lesions, it is worth considering the most common cases.
If the disease is accompanied by ischemic stroke, then lysis of blood clots is required. Also, a specialist prescribes fibrinolytics. To prevent the appearance of new blood clots, antiplatelet agents are prescribed. These include Aspirin and Clopidogrel. Additionally, you may need to take metabolic drugs. These include Mexidol, Cytoflavin, and others. These funds help to improve metabolic processes in the brain tissues.
In addition, in order to prevent a repeated stroke, it is necessary to undergo a course of drugs that reduce the amount of cholesterol in the blood.
If, when studying the symptoms and causes of cerebellar damage, the doctor determines that the patient suffers from neuroinfections (for example, encephalitis or meningitis), then treatment with antibiotics is required.
Problems caused by intoxication of the body can be solved with the help of detoxification therapy. However, for this it is necessary to clarify the type and characteristics of the poison. In difficult situations, immediate action is necessary, so the doctor conducts forced diuresis. In case of food poisoning, it is enough to perform gastric lavage and take sorbents.
If the patient is diagnosed with cancer, then everything depends on his stage and type of pathology. As a rule, radiation and chemotherapy are prescribed for treatment. In some situations, surgery may be required.
Also, experts prescribe drugs that can improve blood flow (for example, Caviton), vitamin complexes, anticonvulsants, and drugs that strengthen muscle tone.
The beneficial effect is exerted by physical therapy and massage sessions. Thanks to a special set of exercises, it is possible to restore muscle tone. This helps the patient quickly return to normal. Physiotherapeutic measures are also carried out (therapeutic baths, electrical stimulation, etc.).
Also, considering the symptoms, causes and treatment of cerebellar lesions, it is worth paying attention to several other brain pathologies encountered in medical practice.
Betten's disease
This pathology belongs to the category of hereditary diseases. It is not so common. In this case, a person has all the signs of cerebellar ataxia, which are recorded in babies in the first 12 months of life. Serious problems in coordination appear, the child cannot focus his eyes, and muscle hypotension appears.
Some children begin to keep their heads on their own only by the age of 2-3, later they begin to talk and walk. However, in most cases, after a few years, the baby's body adapts to the pathology, and the signs of cerebellar lesions cease to be obvious.
Cerebellar Holmes Degeneration
With progressive cerebral atrophy, the dentate nuclei are most damaged. In addition to the standard signs of ataxia, epileptic seizures are observed in patients. However, this pathology usually does not affect the human intellectual abilities. There is a theory that this pathology is hereditary, but exact scientific evidence of this fact does not exist today.
Alcoholic cerebellar degeneration
A similar pathology appears against the background of chronic intoxication with alcohol. In this case, the cerebellar worm is affected. First of all, when diagnosing an ailment in patients, problems with coordination of the limbs are observed. Glance and speech are broken. Patients suffer from severe memory impairment and other brain activity problems.
Based on this, it becomes obvious that problems with the cerebellum appear against the background of other pathologies. Although neurological problems most often lead to ataxia, this is not the only factor that affects human health. Therefore, it is important to pay attention to symptoms in a timely manner, consult a qualified specialist and conduct a diagnosis. Simple tests can be performed at home. However, after this, you need to see a doctor, identify the main cause of the appearance of an unpleasant disease and begin immediate treatment with drugs and physiotherapy.