How is brain atrophy treated?

Written by Liu Yan Hao
Neurology
Updated on September 21, 2024
00:00
00:00

Brain atrophy is a common condition among older patients, characterized by symptoms such as memory decline. Treatment may involve the use of medications that invigorate the blood, improve cerebral circulation, and nourish brain cells. Additionally, dietary therapy can include foods or medicines that nourish the kidneys, and it is recommended to consume more walnuts regularly. Why do foods that nourish the kidneys treat brain atrophy? According to traditional Chinese medicine theory, the kidneys govern the bones and produce marrow, and the brain is the sea of marrow; thus, nourishing the kidneys can treat brain atrophy. Regular consumption of foods like Chinese yam and goji berries is encouraged. These can be added to soups and porridges to help nourish the kidneys and brain, and treat brain atrophy.

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Liu Yan Hao
Neurology
49sec home-news-image

How is brain atrophy treated?

Brain atrophy is a common condition among older patients, characterized by symptoms such as memory decline. Treatment may involve the use of medications that invigorate the blood, improve cerebral circulation, and nourish brain cells. Additionally, dietary therapy can include foods or medicines that nourish the kidneys, and it is recommended to consume more walnuts regularly. Why do foods that nourish the kidneys treat brain atrophy? According to traditional Chinese medicine theory, the kidneys govern the bones and produce marrow, and the brain is the sea of marrow; thus, nourishing the kidneys can treat brain atrophy. Regular consumption of foods like Chinese yam and goji berries is encouraged. These can be added to soups and porridges to help nourish the kidneys and brain, and treat brain atrophy.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zhang Hui
Neurology
48sec home-news-image

Do elderly people with brain atrophy experience dizziness?

If a patient exhibits atrophy of the cerebral cortex, elderly individuals generally do not show clinical symptoms of dizziness. The main manifestations are cognitive impairments, such as a decline in memory, computational ability, and judgment, as well as decreased executive functions. Some severe cases may even show personality changes and exhibit mental symptoms. If the patient has significant cerebellar atrophy, it is possible for them to experience dizziness, such as in cases of multiple system atrophy causing cerebellar atrophy, where the elderly may notably suffer from dizziness, which is related to changes in body position, particularly making them prone to dizziness when standing.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zhang Hui
Neurology
1min 3sec home-news-image

Can cerebellar atrophy be treated?

There are various causes of cerebellar atrophy, and whether it can be treated depends crucially on the cause. If the atrophy is caused by genetic heart disease, there are no effective treatment options. For example, cerebellar ataxia due to spinal ataxia or multiple system atrophy typically worsens progressively, manifesting in significant coordination loss, unstable walking, and other clinical symptoms, with a lack of effective treatment options. However, cerebellar atrophy caused by long-term alcohol consumption can be treated. It is most important to quit drinking and then administer high doses of B vitamins, which can significantly improve symptoms. If cerebellar atrophy is caused by cerebellar ischemia, actively improving cerebral blood supply and taking antiplatelet aggregation drugs can also be effective. (Note: This answer is for reference only. Please consult a professional physician for medication guidance and avoid self-medication.)

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zhang Hui
Neurology
56sec home-news-image

What are the symptoms of cerebral atrophy?

Some patients with brain atrophy may not exhibit any specific clinical symptoms and are only found to have brain atrophy through imaging studies, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain. Some patients do exhibit clinical symptoms, and the common symptoms of brain atrophy mainly include the following manifestations. First, patients may experience a decline in memory function, such as frequently forgetting things they have just done, forgetting where they placed their wallet, or forgetting to bring keys when going out. Second, there may also be a decline in executive functions, such as difficulties in dressing or brushing teeth by oneself. Third, there may be a decline in computational abilities, to the extent that the patient cannot perform simple arithmetic. Additionally, brain atrophy may also present some psychiatric symptoms, such as hallucinations and incoherent speech.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zhang Hui
Neurology
56sec home-news-image

MRI manifestations of brain atrophy

Patients with cerebral atrophy display clear signs on cranial Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). The manifestations on MRI primarily include notably widened cerebral sulci, obvious atrophy of the cerebral lobes, and enlarged ventricles, which are typical presentations of cerebral atrophy. Cerebral atrophy can be categorized into atrophy of the cerebrum, cerebellum, and brainstem, each showing different characteristics on MRI, which requires careful differentiation. There are many causes of cerebral atrophy, such as degenerative diseases like Alzheimer's disease, which leads to cerebral atrophy. Cerebral thrombosis and poor cerebral vascular conditions can also cause cerebral atrophy due to insufficient blood supply to the brain. Additionally, drug toxicity and chronic alcoholism can lead to cerebral atrophy, which also needs to be differentiated carefully.