A single focus of dyscirculatory character. A single dystrophic focus in the left frontal lobe

Against the background of circulatory insufficiency, focal changes in the substance of the brain of a dyscirculatory nature develop. The brain is supplied with blood from 4 vascular pools - two carotid and two vertebrobasilar. Normally, these pools are interconnected in the cranial cavity, forming anastomoses. These compounds enable the human body to compensate for the lack of blood flow and oxygen starvation for a long time. In areas that experience a shortage of blood, blood flows from other pools by overflow. If these anastomotic vessels are not developed, then they speak of an open circle of Willis. With such a structure of blood vessels, circulatory failure leads to the appearance of focal changes in the brain, clinical symptoms.

Clinical picture

The most common diagnosis in the elderly, made only on the basis of complaints, is dyscirculatory encephalopathy. However, it must be remembered that this is a chronic, steadily progressing circulatory disorder that develops as a result of suffering from brain capillaries, which is associated with the development of a large number of microstrokes. Focal brain damage can be diagnosed only if certain criteria are met:

there are signs of brain damage, which can be confirmed objectively;
constantly steadily progressing clinical symptoms;
the presence of a direct relationship between the clinical and instrumental picture during additional examination methods;
the presence of a cerebrovascular disease in a patient, which is a risk factor for the development of focal brain damage;
the absence of other diseases with which the origin of the clinical picture could be associated.

Focal changes in the substance of the brain of a dyscirculatory nature are manifested by impaired memory, attention, movement, emotional-volitional sphere.

The main influence on the functional state and social adaptation of the patient is exerted by cognitive disorders. When there is a focal lesion of the brain substance in the area of the frontal and temporal lobes of the dominant hemisphere, there is a decrease in the memory of attention, a slowdown in thought processes, a violation of planning and the consistent execution of daily routine work. Cognitive impairments are explained by dystrophy of the brain of vascular origin. With the development of neurodegenerative focal changes in the brain, a person ceases to recognize familiar objects, speech suffers, emotional and personality disorders join. First, asthenic syndrome and depressive states appear, which respond poorly to antidepressant treatment.

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Progressive dystrophic, degenerative disorders lead to the appearance of egocentrism, there is no control over emotions, an inadequate reaction to the situation develops.

Movement disorders are manifested by staggering when walking, coordination disorders, central paresis of varying severity, trembling of the head, hands, emotional dullness and amimia. Steadily progressive focal lesions of the brain lead to the final stage of the disease, when the patient cannot eat due to constant choking. Violent emotions appear, for example, laughter or crying out of place, the voice becomes nasal.

Additional examination methods

The main method for diagnosing this pathology is MRI of the brain, in which hyperintense foci, small heart attacks, postischemic degeneration, and expansion of the ventricular system are determined. The number of heart attacks can be from single to multiple cases, the diameter is up to 2.5 cm. Small focal changes say that this is such a serious lesion that can lead to the patient's disability. It is in this place that blood circulation suffers.

Doppler ultrasound, duplex scanning is used, which can show a violation of blood flow in the form of its asymmetry, stenosis, occlusion of the main vessels, increased venous blood flow, atherosclerotic plaques.

Computed tomography will allow you to see only traces of past heart attacks in the form of gaps filled with liquor, i.e. cysts. Thinning is also determined - atrophy of the cerebral cortex, expansion of the ventricles, communicating hydrocephalus.

Modern approaches to therapy

Treatment should be directed to the underlying disease that led to brain disorders. In addition, it is necessary to use means that prevent the progression of the disease.

Without fail, vascular agents are prescribed, such as pentoxifylline, vinpocetine, cinnarizine, dihydroergocriptine. They have a positive effect on cerebral circulation, normalize microcirculation, increase the plasticity of erythrocytes, reduce blood viscosity and restore its fluidity. These drugs relieve vascular spasm, restore tissue resistance to hypoxia.

As an antioxidant, nootropic, antihypoxic treatment, cytoflavin, actovegin, thioctic acid, piracetam, ginkgo biloba are used.

Treatment with vestibulotropic agents reduces the effects of dizziness, eliminates unsteadiness when walking, and improves the quality of life of patients. Treatment with betahistine, vertigochel, dimenhydrinate, meclozin, diazepam justifies itself.

With high blood pressure, regular monitoring of pressure figures and heart rate and their normalization according to indications is necessary. Aspirins, dipyridamole, clopidogrel, warfarin, dabigatran are used to thin the blood. Statins are used to treat high cholesterol levels.

Currently, special attention is paid to calcium channel blockers, which, along with the function of normalizing blood pressure, have a neuroprotective effect. Cerebrolysin, cerebrolysate, gliatilin, mexidol restore cognitive functions well.

Neurotransmitters, for example, citicoline, has a nootropic and psychostimulant effect, normalizes memory, attention, improves well-being, and restores the patient's ability to self-service. The mechanism of action is based on the fact that the drug reduces cerebral edema, stabilizes cell membranes,

L-lysine aescinate has anti-inflammatory, decongestant, and neuroprotective properties. Stimulates the secretion of glucocorticoids, restores vascular permeability, tones the veins and normalizes venous outflow.

Selective therapy for cognitive disorders

To restore memory, attention, performance, donepezil is used - a drug that normalizes the exchange of neurotransmitters, restores the speed and quality of transmission of nerve impulses as intended. Restores daily activity of patients, corrects apathy, thoughtless obsessive actions, eliminates hallucinations.

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Galantamine normalizes neuromuscular transmission, stimulates the production of digestive enzymes, the secretion of sweat glands, lowers intraocular pressure. The drug is used for dementia, dyscirculatory encephalopathy, glaucoma.

Rivastigmine is an effective remedy. But its intake is limited by the presence of gastric ulcer, duodenal ulcer, conduction disorders, arrhythmia, bronchial asthma, urinary tract obstruction, epilepsy.

With severe psycho-emotional disorders, antidepressants are used. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors have proven themselves well in this pathology. These drugs include venlafaxine, milnacipran, duloxetine, sertraline. Drugs of this group in pharmacies are sold only by prescription. The attending physician prescribes these drugs, taking into account the severity of intellectual-mnestic disorders, depression, delusions.

Without exaggeration, the brain can be called the control system of the entire human body, because different parts of the brain are responsible for breathing, the functioning of internal organs and sensory organs, speech, memory, thinking, and perception. The human brain is capable of storing and processing vast amounts of information; At the same time, hundreds of thousands of processes that ensure the vital activity of the organism take place in it. However, the functioning of the brain is inextricably linked with its blood supply, because even a slight decrease in the blood supply to a certain part of the brain substance can lead to irreversible consequences - the mass death of neurons and, as a result, severe diseases of the nervous system and dementia.

Causes and symptoms of focal changes of a dyscirculatory nature

The most common manifestations of impaired blood supply to the brain are focal changes in the substance of the brain of a dyscirculatory nature, which are characterized by a violation of blood circulation in certain areas of the medulla, and not in the entire organ. As a rule, these changes are a chronic process that develops over a sufficiently long time, and in the early stages of this disease, most people cannot distinguish it from other diseases of the nervous system. Doctors distinguish three stages in the development of focal changes of a dyscirculatory nature:

At the first stage, in certain areas of the brain, due to vascular diseases, a slight violation of blood circulation occurs, as a result of which a person feels tired, lethargic, apathy; the patient has sleep disturbances, periodic dizziness and headaches.
The second stage is characterized by a deepening of vascular lesions in the area of the brain, which is the focus of the disease. Symptoms such as decreased memory and intellectual abilities, impaired emotional sphere, severe headaches, tinnitus, and coordination disorders indicate the transition of the disease to this stage.
The third stage of focal changes in the substance of the brain of a dyscirculatory nature, when a significant part of the cells died in the focus of the disease due to impaired blood circulation, is characterized by irreversible changes in the functioning of the brain. As a rule, in patients at this stage of the disease, muscle tone is significantly reduced, there is practically no coordination of movement, signs of dementia (dementia) appear, and sensory organs may also fail.

Categories of people prone to the appearance of focal changes in the substance of the brain

To avoid the development of this disease, it is necessary to carefully monitor your well-being, and when the first symptoms appear that indicate the possibility of a focal change in the brain substance of a dyscirculatory nature, immediately contact a neurologist or neuropathologist. Since this disease is quite difficult to diagnose (a doctor can make an accurate diagnosis only after an MRI), doctors recommend that people predisposed to this disease undergo a preventive examination by a neurologist at least once a year. The following categories of people are at risk:

suffering from hypertension, vegetovascular dystonia and other diseases of the cardiovascular system;
patients with diabetes;
suffering from atherosclerosis;
having bad habits and overweight;
leading a sedentary lifestyle;
in a state of chronic stress;
elderly people over the age of 50.

Focal changes of a dystrophic nature

In addition to changes in the dyscirculatory nature, a disease with similar symptoms are single focal changes in the substance of the brain of a dystrophic nature due to a lack of nutrients. This disease affects people who have experienced a head injury, suffering from ischemia, cervical osteochondrosis in the acute stage, and patients who have been diagnosed with a benign or malignant brain tumor. Due to the fact that the vessels supplying a certain part of the brain cannot fully perform their functions, the tissues in this area do not receive all the necessary nutrients. The result of such a “starvation” of nervous tissues is headaches, dizziness, a decrease in intellectual abilities and performance, and in the final stages dementia, paresis, and paralysis are possible.

Despite the seriousness of these diseases and the difficulty in diagnosing them, each person can significantly reduce the risk of focal changes in the brain substance. To do this, it is enough to give up bad habits, lead a healthy and active lifestyle, avoid overwork and stress, eat wholesome and healthy food and undergo a preventive medical examination 1-2 times a year.

At the first stage, in certain areas of the brain, due to vascular diseases, a slight violation of blood circulation occurs, as a result of which a person feels tired, lethargic, apathy; the patient has sleep disturbances, periodic dizziness and headaches.
The second stage is characterized by a deepening of vascular lesions in the area of the brain, which is the focus of the disease. Symptoms such as decreased memory and intellectual abilities, impaired emotional sphere, severe headaches, tinnitus, and coordination disorders indicate the transition of the disease to this stage.
The third stage of focal changes in the substance of the brain of a dyscirculatory nature, when a significant part of the cells died in the focus of the disease due to impaired blood circulation, is characterized by irreversible changes in the functioning of the brain. As a rule, in patients at this stage of the disease, muscle tone is significantly reduced, there is practically no coordination of movement, signs of dementia (dementia) appear, and sensory organs may also fail.

Due to the fact that the vessels supplying a certain part of the brain cannot fully perform their functions, the tissues in this area do not receive all the necessary nutrients. The result of such a “starvation” of nervous tissues is headaches, dizziness, a decrease in intellectual abilities and performance, and in the final stages dementia, paresis, and paralysis are possible.

Despite the seriousness of these diseases and the difficulty in diagnosing them, each person can significantly reduce the risk of focal changes in the brain substance. To do this, it is enough to give up bad habits, lead a healthy and active lifestyle, avoid overwork and stress, eat wholesome and healthy food and undergo a preventive medical examination 1-2 times a year.

Sooner or later, all people grow old, and the body ages along with them. It primarily affects the heart, brain and spinal cord. If the heart ceases to properly cope with its task - pumping blood - then over time this will affect the state of the brain, the cells of which will not receive enough nutrients to sustain life.

According to various sources, from 50 to 70% of the elderly (over 60 years) suffer from a similar disease.

Any disease is better to prevent than to treat later, and for this you need to know its external manifestations (signs) and symptoms.

First stage. In the first couple, a person feels a little tired, lethargic, dizzy and does not sleep well. This is due to poor blood circulation in the brain. The degree of significance grows along with the development of vascular diseases: cholesterol deposition, hypotension, etc.
Second stage. At the second stage, the so-called “center of the disease” appears in the brain, the damage to the substance of the brain deepens due to poor blood circulation. Cells do not receive sufficient nutrition and gradually die off. The beginning of this stage is indicated by memory impairment, loss of coordination, noise or “shooting” in the ears, and severe headaches.
Third stage. Due to the discircular nature of the course of the last stage, the focus of the disease moves even deeper, the affected vessels bring too little blood to the brain. The patient shows signs of dementia, lack of coordination of movements (not always), dysfunction of the sense organs is possible: loss of vision, hearing, shaking hands, etc.

It is possible to establish the exact change in the substance of the brain using MRI.

In the absence of treatment, over time, diseases such as:

Arterial hypertension.

Reasons for change

As already mentioned, the main cause of the manifestation of the disease is vascular damage. inevitable with age. But for some, these lesions are minimal: small cholesterol deposits, for example, - while for someone they develop into pathology. So, diseases lead to a change in the substance of the brain of a dystrophic nature:

Cervical osteochondrosis.

Risk group

Any disease has a risk group, people who are in it should be extremely careful. If a person has similar diseases, then he is in the primary risk group, if only predispositions, then in the secondary:

Suffering from diseases of the cardiovascular system: hypotension, hypertension, hypertension, dystonia.
Patients with diathesis, diabetes mellitus or stomach ulcers.
Those who are overweight or have an unhealthy eating habit.
Being in a state of chronic depression (stress) or leading a sedentary lifestyle.
People are older regardless of gender.
Those suffering from rheumatism.

For people of the main risk group, first of all, it is necessary to cure the underlying disease, followed by the recovery of the brain. Particular attention should be paid to patients with hypertension and all its manifestations.

How to overcome?

Despite the complexity of the disease and the problems with its diagnosis, each person can avoid such a fate by helping his body fight the signs of old age or the consequences of a serious injury. To do this, follow simple rules.

First, lead a mobile lifestyle. Walk or jog for at least two hours a day. Walk in the fresh air: in the forest, in the park, go out of town, etc. Play outdoor games that correspond to physical abilities: basketball, pioneer ball, volleyball, tennis or table tennis, etc. The more movement, the more actively the heart works, and the vessels become stronger.

Secondly, proper nutrition. Eliminate or minimize the consumption of alcohol, excessively sweet and salty foods and fried foods. This does not mean that you have to keep yourself on the strictest diet! If you want meat, then you don’t need to fry it or drip sausage, it’s better to boil it. Same thing with potatoes. Instead of cakes and pastries, you can treat yourself to homemade apple and strawberry pies from time to time. All harmful dishes and products can be replaced with their equivalents.

Thirdly, avoid stressful situations and overwork. The mental state of a person directly affects his health. Do not overwork yourself, rest, if you are tired, sleep at least 8 hours a day. Do not overwork yourself with physical activity.

Fourth, 1-2 times a year, go through a medical examination to monitor the condition of the body. Especially if you are already undergoing treatment!

It is best not to try to help your body with “home methods”: drink medicines on your own, inject injections, etc. Follow the instructions of the doctor, go through the procedures that he will prescribe. Sometimes, to determine the accuracy of the diagnosis, it is necessary to undergo many procedures, taking tests is a normal situation.

A responsible doctor will never prescribe medication unless he is sure of the accuracy of the diagnosis.

Without exaggeration, the brain can be called the control system of the entire human body, because different parts of the brain are responsible for breathing, the functioning of internal organs and sensory organs, speech, memory, thinking, and perception. The human brain is capable of storing and processing vast amounts of information;

At the same time, hundreds of thousands of processes that ensure the vital activity of the organism take place in it. However, the functioning of the brain is inextricably linked with its blood supply, because even a slight decrease in the blood supply to a certain part of the brain substance can lead to irreversible consequences #8212; mass death of neurons and, as a result, severe diseases of the nervous system and dementia.

Categories of people prone to the appearance of focal changes in the substance of the brain

suffering from hypertension, vegetovascular dystonia and other diseases of the cardiovascular system;
patients with diabetes;
suffering from atherosclerosis;
having bad habits and overweight;
leading a sedentary lifestyle;
in a state of chronic stress;
elderly people over the age of 50.

Reasons for change

Risk group

How to overcome?

Foci of the type of gliosis.
Cystic areas due to atrophy (consequences of strokes and trauma).
Calcifications (as an example, due to hematoma impregnation with calcium salts).
Periventricular leukoaraiosis. Although not directly related to focal changes, it is a significant marker of chronic ischemia.

Weakened blood supply;
Osteochondrosis of the cervical region in the acute stage;
oncological diseases;
Head injury.

Who is susceptible to illness?

By the way, single focal changes in the substance of the brain of a dystrophic nature can occur not only in old age, but also in young and middle-aged people. Any infection or mechanical injury can disrupt the integrity or patency of the blood vessels that feed the brain and spinal cord.

Individuals undergo a single focal change in the substance of the brain of the head of a dystrophic nature:

Suffering from diabetes,
Patients with atherosclerosis
Those suffering from rheumatism. Such people need to first cure the main disease, follow a special diet, monitor physical activity and, of course, visit a doctor regularly.

Local focal changes in the substance of the brain can be cured if approached in a qualified and timely manner. Unfortunately, only senile changes in the substance of the brain are difficult to treat.

How to treat?

In treatment, the main thing is to have time to recognize the disease, when the symptoms of focal changes in the substance of the brain are not yet so pronounced and the process of change can still be reversed. Many different therapeutic measures will be prescribed to improve the blood supply to the brain: normalization of rest and work, selection of the right diet, the use of sedatives and analgesics. Drugs that improve the blood supply to the brain will be prescribed. The patient may be offered sanatorium treatment.

Symptoms of focal lesions

Any type and kind of brain damage, as well as functional disorders of its structure and activity or the work of body systems that are closely related to it, are necessarily reflected in the daily activities of a person, his behavior, functions. Also, the very location of the lesion can very noticeably affect the functioning of the body's organ systems, as well as the proper functioning of the musculoskeletal and musculoskeletal systems.

In addition to pathologies that were caused by vascular genesis, other types of diagnoses may also occur, including single focal changes in the substance of the brain of a dystrophic nature. This kind of pathology can most often occur with insufficient supply of nutrients and oxygen to the brain tissue.

The reasons for this phenomenon:

Oncological type of tissue damage;
Insufficient blood supply to a certain area of \u200b\u200bthe tissue;
Injury to the head and brain tissue;
Acute stage of cervical osteochondrosis.

When, due to vascular genesis, small focal changes in the brain occur in a person, the following symptoms are usually observed:

Significant decrease in brain activity;
Pain in the head;
dementia;
Frequent dizziness;
Paresis of muscle tissue, weakening;
Local, partial paralysis of some muscle groups.

In addition, changes in the blood circulation around the substance of the brain of a dystrophic nature can also lead to a disorder of the human psyche. In view of vascular degeneration, blood pressure may increase, a stroke may occur, as well as hyperintense brain phenomena. But it can also happen that subcortical lesions may not be symptomatic.

One of the main symptoms is hypertension. After all, if the blood circulation in the brain is disturbed, then it will suffer from a lack of oxygen, and this, in turn, will immediately lead to an acceleration of signals about the supply of blood to the brain, thereby increasing blood pressure. In addition, epileptic seizures can also be observed in a sick person.

A variety of mental disorders are also the main symptom of focal brain damage. After all, with pathological phenomena in the subarachnoid spaces, hemorrhages often occur. This can also lead to formations in the fundus, darkening and other symptoms that appear in the fundus.

A possible stroke or micro-stroke is also the main symptom. Focal changes in the brain are usually clearly visible on MRI, which makes it possible to determine the pre-stroke state. This will allow the doctor to immediately prescribe the right treatment. The most obvious signs of damage can be considered single and multiple, small and large involuntary muscle contractions.

And, of course, pain is no exception. Migraines, frequent and severe headaches clearly indicate disorders of a multifocal nature.

This is a vast area of focal lesions of the fetal and newborn brain, which are treated by pediatric neurologists.

Modern possibilities of medicine allow diagnosing with high accuracy focal lesions of the brain, their number, localization, size. The most informative examinations are MRI, CT (sometimes with contrast). Also, the diagnosis is helped by the existing neurological symptoms.

Galantamine normalizes neuromuscular transmission, stimulates the production of digestive enzymes, the secretion of sweat glands, lowers intraocular pressure. The drug is used for dementia, dyscirculatory encephalopathy, glaucoma.

Focal lesions of the brain leave a certain imprint on the daily life of a person. How the work of organs and their systems will change depends on the localization of the focus of damage. The vascular cause of focal disorders often leads to subsequent mental disorders, it can turn into hypertension with excessively high blood pressure, stroke and other equally serious consequences.

Most often, the presence of a focal lesion is indicated by such symptoms as:

High blood pressure or hypertension caused by a lack of oxygen due to dystrophy of the brain vessels;
Epilepsy attacks, as a result of which the patient can harm himself;
Disorders of the psyche and memory associated with its decrease, loss of certain facts, distortion of the perception of information, deviations in behavior and personality changes;
Stroke and pre-stroke state - can be fixed on MRI in the form of foci of altered brain tissue;
Pain syndrome, which is accompanied by chronic intense headache, which can be localized both in the back of the head, eyebrows, and over the entire surface of the head;
Involuntary muscle contractions that the patient is unable to control;
Noises in the head or ears that lead to stress and irritability
Frequent bouts of dizziness;
Sensation of "head throbbing";
Visual disturbances in the form of increased sensitivity to light and decreased visual acuity;
Nausea and vomiting that accompanies a headache and does not bring relief;
Constant weakness and lethargy;
speech defects;
Insomnia.

Objectively, during the examination, the doctor can identify such signs as:

Paresis and paralysis of muscles;
Asymmetric arrangement of nasolabial folds;
Breathing like "sailing";
Pathological reflexes on the arms and legs.

However, there are also asymptomatic forms of focal brain disorders. Among the causes leading to the occurrence of focal disorders, the main ones are:

Vascular disorders associated with advanced age or cholesterol deposits in the wall of blood vessels;
cervical osteochondrosis;
Ischemia;
Benign or malignant neoplasms;
Traumatic head injury.

Any disease has its own risk group, and people who fall into this category should be very careful about their health. In the presence of causative factors of focal changes in the brain, a person is referred to the primary risk group, if there are predispositions due to a hereditary or social factor, they are referred to the secondary:

Diseases of the cardiovascular system associated with pressure disorders such as hypotension, hypertension, dystonia;
Diabetes;
Obese patients with overweight or unhealthy eating habits;
Chronic depression (stress);
Hypodynamic people who move little and lead a sedentary lifestyle;
Age category, regardless of gender. According to statistics, 50 - 80% of patients with focal dystrophic disorders acquired their pathologies due to aging.

People belonging to the primary risk group, in order to avoid focal brain changes or to prevent the progression of existing problems, must first of all treat their underlying disease, that is, eliminate the root cause.

The most accurate and sensitive diagnostic method for focal brain changes is MRI, which allows you to determine the presence of pathology even at an early stage, and accordingly start timely treatment, and MRI also helps to identify the causes of pathologies that have arisen. MRI allows you to see even small-focal degenerative changes, which at first do not cause concern, but in the end often lead to a stroke, as well as foci with increased echogenicity of vascular origin, which often indicate the oncological nature of disorders.

Focal changes in the brain of vascular origin on MRI, depending on the location and size, can be indicators of disorders such as:

Hemispheres of the brain - a possible blockage of the right vertebral artery due to embryonic anomalies or acquired atherosclerotic plaques or a hernia of the cervical spine;
The white matter of the frontal lobe of the brain is hypertension, congenital, in some cases, non-life-threatening developmental anomalies, and in others, a proportionally increasing risk of life to the changing size of the lesion. Such violations may be accompanied by changes in the motor sphere;
Numerous foci of brain changes - pre-stroke state, senile dementia, epilepsy;

Although small-focal changes can cause serious pathological conditions, and even threaten the life of the patient, they occur in almost every patient over the age of 50 years. And it doesn't necessarily lead to problems. Foci of dystrophic and dyscirculatory origin detected on MRI are subject to mandatory dynamic monitoring of the development of the disorder.

What to do with a focal change in the substance of the brain should be told by the doctor, but the patient himself may suspect the presence of a pathology. The disease often has a postischemic origin. It is characterized by a violation of blood flow in one of the sections of the hemisphere (hemisphere). It is difficult for some people to understand what it is, therefore, for convenience, the development of changes in the brain substance was divided into 3 stages:

First stage. At this stage, signs of focal lesions in the substance of the brain do not appear. The patient may feel only slight weakness, dizziness and apathy. Occasionally, sleep is disturbed and headaches bother. Foci of vascular genesis are just emerging and there are small disruptions in the blood flow;
Second phase. As the pathology develops, the course of the disease worsens. This manifests itself in the form of a migraine, a decrease in mental abilities, ringing in the ears, outbursts of emotions and a disorder in coordination of movements;
Third stage. If the disease has reached this stage, then focal changes in the white matter of the brain have irreversible consequences. Most of the neurons die and the patient's muscle tone rapidly decreases. Over time, symptoms of dementia (dementia) appear, the sense organs cease to perform their functions, and the person completely loses control over his movements.

Ischemia. This disease is mainly characterized by a violation of the blood circulation of the brain.
Cervical osteochondrosis.
Tumor (benign or malignant).
Severe head injury. In this case, age does not matter.

Changes in the cerebral cortex. Such a focus occurs mainly due to blockage or clamping of the vertebral artery. This is usually associated with congenital anomalies or the development of atherosclerosis. In rare cases, along with the appearance of a focus in the cerebral cortex, a vertebral hernia occurs;
Multiple focal changes. Their presence usually indicates a pre-stroke condition. In some cases, they can prevent dementia, epilepsy and other pathological processes associated with vascular atrophy. If such changes are detected, a course of therapy should be started urgently to prevent irreversible consequences;
microfocal changes. Such damage is found in virtually every person after years. You can see them with the use of a contrast agent only if they have a pathological nature of occurrence. Small-focal changes are not particularly evident, but as they develop, they can cause a stroke;
Changes in the white matter of the frontal and parietal lobes subcortically and periventricularly. This type of damage occurs due to constantly elevated pressure, especially if a person has had a hypertensive crisis. Sometimes small single foci are congenital. The danger arises from the growth of lesions in the white matter of the frontal and parietal lobes subcortically. In such a situation, the symptoms gradually progress.

skull trauma;
exacerbation of cervical osteochondrosis;
oncological neoplasms;
obesity;
atherosclerosis;
diabetes;
heart problems;
prolonged and frequent stress;
lack of physical activity;
bad habits;
pathological processes associated with aging.

High blood pressure, provoked by a lack of oxygen due to the degenerative state of the cerebral vessels.
Epileptic seizures, in which a person should not put metal objects into his mouth, pour water on him, beat him on the cheeks, etc.
Mental disorders, memory impairment, distorted perception of reality, atypical behavior.
Stroke or pre-stroke condition, which can be identified on CT or MRI.
Increasing throbbing headache in the back of the head, eye sockets, superciliary areas, radiating over the surface of the entire skull.
Uncontrolled muscle contractions, tremor of the limbs, chin, eyes, neck.
Tinnitus, ringing, stuffiness leading to nervousness.
Regular bouts of dizziness leading to nausea and vomiting.
Photophobia, decreased hearing acuity, blurred vision, double vision, marked visual impairment.
Constant fatigue, apathy.
Slurring of speech.
Sleep disturbance.
Muscle paresis, pathological reflex reaction of the extremities.

Symptoms of dystrophy of the substance of the brain

Conventionally, all clinical symptoms can be divided: general, focal neurological, and mental. General symptoms suggest the appearance of weakness, drowsiness, fever, chills, loss of appetite, headaches, dizziness. An experienced neurologist will be able to determine the site of damage in the brain with 90% accuracy based on the patient's complaints and clinical symptoms.

If the focus is located in the cortex of the frontal lobe, then speech and its perception suffer, the tone of some muscles increases, there is a disorder in the movement of the eyes, head, limbs, and balance is lost when walking.

When the parietal lobe is damaged, the ability to read, write, count is impaired, tactile sensitivity changes or is lost. The patient cannot correctly determine the position of his limbs in space.

If there are hearing impairments, deafness, auditory hallucinations, memory loss, epileptic seizures, then it can be assumed that the pathological focus is in the temporal lobe.

Various visual impairments (changes in color and light perception, visual illusion, complete blindness) speak in favor of damage to the occipital lobe.

Lesions in the cerebellum affect balance and gait. In fact, in practice there are much more focal neurological symptoms: paresis, paralysis, impaired sensitivity of the limbs, fainting, tremor. Even with single focal changes in the substance of the brain, respiratory disorders, convulsions, and coma can occur.

Mental symptoms accompany neurological symptoms but sometimes occur on their own. Mental disorders include foolishness, depression, irritability, sleep disturbance, anxiety disorder, restlessness, panic attacks or aggression.

Alzheimer's disease. The most common form of degeneration of the nervous system.
Pick's disease. A rare progressive disease of the nervous system, manifested by rally.
Huntington's disease. Genetic disease of the nervous system. developing rally.
Arterial hypertension.
Cardiocerebral syndrome (impairment of the basic functions of the brain due to cardiac pathology).

Clinically, focal brain damage can manifest itself with the following signs:

high blood pressure;
epileptic seizures;
deviations in the psyche;
dizziness;
congestion in the vascular bed of the fundus;
frequent headaches;
sudden muscle contractions;
paralysis.

It is possible to distinguish the main stages of the progression of cerebrovascular disorders:

At the initial stage, a person and the people around him practically do not notice deviations. Only bouts of headaches are possible, which are usually associated with overload, fatigue. Some patients develop apathy. At this time, the foci are just emerging, without leading to serious problems of nervous regulation.
At the second stage, deviations in the psyche and movements become more and more noticeable, pains become more frequent. Others may notice outbursts of emotions in the patient.
The third stage is characterized by mass death of neurons, loss of control of the nervous system over movements. Such pathologies are already irreversible, they greatly change the lifestyle of the patient and his personality. Treatment can no longer restore lost functions.

It is not uncommon for changes in the vessels of the brain to be detected absolutely by chance, during a diagnosis prescribed for another reason. Some parts of the tissue die asymptomatically, without pronounced failures in the nervous regulation.

Types, causes, treatment of focal changes in the brain of a vascular nature

Local, or focal, changes in the white matter of the brain are diseases that are dysfunctions not of the whole brain, but only of a certain small part or several parts. A heart attack in the brain would be such a lesion. In addition, a stroke, for example, of a hemorrhagic type, as well as a hemorrhage under the membrane. The nature and course of the disease may also differ:

Dystrophic type of disease;
Discirculatory type of diagnosis;
Postischemic type of condition.

Single focal changes in the substance of the brain of a dyscirculatory nature are diagnoses that are quite closely associated with chronic lesions of the cerebral and spinal blood flow. Such disorders develop and progress slowly, but very hard.

Focal changes in the brain are very difficult to detect at their primary stages of development. Such conditions do not have a good and vivid expression of symptoms. All symptoms manifest themselves in the form of microsymptoms of a diffuse nature. This type of single focal changes in the substance of the brain of a dyscirculatory nature most often appear together with concomitant diseases, for example, such as neurosis, atherosclerosis, vegetative dystonia, and arterial hypertension.

In general, if we give a simple definition, then such foci in the white matter in some areas and in certain places of the human brain appear due to vascular genesis, disturbances in the blood supply and blood circulation through the vessels of the brain.

arterial hypertension and hypotension;
diabetes mellitus with metabolic disorders;
smoking and alcoholism, drugs;
stressful situations;
metabolic disorders of lipids, lipoproteins, obesity;
dystonia of the autonomic nervous system;
tendency to weather dependence;
traumatic brain injury;
motor passivity.

Focal circulatory disorders are found in the brain with:

systemic vasculitis;
blood diseases;
congenital and acquired heart diseases;
aneurysmal vasodilatation;
cervical osteochondrosis.

Who is at risk

If there are no signs of the disease, it is advisable to find out what risk groups this disease has. According to statistics, focal lesions often occur in the presence of such pathologies:

Atherosclerosis;
High pressure;
VVD (vegetovascular dystonia);
Diabetes;
Pathology of the heart muscle;
Constant stress;
Sedentary work;
Abuse of bad habits;
Overweight.

Damage to the white matter of the brain of vascular origin may appear as a result of age-related changes. Usually there are small single foci in people after 60 years.

Any disease has its own risk groups. People belonging to such groups should carefully monitor their health and immediately consult a doctor at the first suspicious symptoms. With focal pathologies, this group includes patients:

Hypertension, hypotension.
Diabetes.
Atherosclerosis.
Rheumatism.
obese.
Sensitive, emotional people living in constant stress.
Leading a sedentary life.
Elderly people, regardless of gender (starting a rally).

The human body is constantly in the struggle for a full existence, fighting viruses and bacteria, depleting its resources. Disorders of the circulatory system have a particularly adverse effect on the quality of life of the patient. If brain structures are involved in the process, functional disorders are inevitable.

The lack of blood supply to brain cells causes their oxygen starvation or ischemia, leading to structural dystrophic, that is, nutrition-related disorders. Subsequently, such structural disorders turn into brain areas of degeneration that are no longer able to cope with their functions.

Diffuse, which cover the entire brain tissue uniformly, without highlighting certain areas. Such disorders appear due to general disorders in the circulatory system, concussion of the brain, infections such as meningitis and encephalitis. Symptoms of diffuse changes are most often reduced performance, dull pain in the head, difficulty switching from one type of activity to another, apathy, chronic fatigue and sleep disorders;
Focal - these are those changes that cover a specific area - the focus. Violation of blood circulation occurred in this area, which led to its structural deformations. Foci of disorganization can be both single and multiple, unevenly scattered over the entire surface of the brain.

Among the focal disorders, the most common are:

Cyst - a medium-sized cavity filled with liquid contents, which may not cause unpleasant consequences for the patient, but may cause compression of the vascular network of the brain or its other parts, starting a chain of irreversible changes;
Small areas of necrosis - dead brain tissue, due to the lack of an influx of necessary substances - dead zones that are no longer able to perform their functions;
Gliomesodermal or intracerebral scar - occurs after traumatic lesions or concussions and leads to minor changes in the structure of the substance of the brain.

Focal lesions of the brain leave a certain imprint on the daily life of a person. How the work of organs and their systems will change depends on the localization of the focus of damage. The vascular cause of focal disorders often leads to subsequent mental disorders, possibly with excessively high blood pressure, stroke, and other equally serious consequences.

Most often, the presence of a focal lesion is indicated by such symptoms as:

High blood pressure or hypertension caused by a lack of oxygen due to dystrophy of the brain vessels;
, as a result of which the patient may harm himself;
Disorders of the psyche and memory associated with its decrease, loss of certain facts, distortion of the perception of information, deviations in behavior and personality changes;
Stroke and pre-stroke state - can be fixed on MRI in the form of foci of altered brain tissue;
Pain syndrome, which is accompanied by chronic intense headache, which can be localized both in the back of the head, eyebrows, and over the entire surface of the head;
Involuntary muscle contractions that the patient is unable to control;
Noises in the head or ears that lead to stress and irritability
Frequent bouts of dizziness;
Sensation of "head throbbing";
Visual disturbances in the form of increased sensitivity to light and decreased visual acuity;
Nausea and vomiting that accompanies a headache and does not bring relief;
Constant weakness and lethargy;
speech defects;
Insomnia.

Objectively, during the examination, the doctor can identify such signs as:

Paresis and paralysis of muscles;
Asymmetric arrangement of nasolabial folds;
Breathing like "sailing";
Pathological reflexes on the arms and legs.

However, there are also asymptomatic forms of focal brain disorders. Among the causes leading to the occurrence of focal disorders, the main ones are:

Vascular disorders associated with advanced age or cholesterol deposits in the wall of blood vessels;
cervical osteochondrosis;
Ischemia;
Benign or malignant neoplasms;
Traumatic head injury.

Diseases of the cardiovascular system associated with pressure disorders such as hypotension, hypertension, dystonia;
Diabetes;
Obese patients with overweight or unhealthy eating habits;
Chronic depression (stress);
Hypodynamic people who move little and lead a sedentary lifestyle;
Age category 55-60 years, regardless of gender. According to statistics, 50 - 80% of patients with focal dystrophic disorders acquired their pathologies due to aging.

People belonging to the primary risk group, in order to avoid focal brain changes or to prevent the progression of existing problems, need their underlying disease, that is, eliminate the root cause.

The most accurate and sensitive diagnostic method for focal is MRI, which allows you to determine the presence of pathology even at an early stage, and accordingly start timely treatment, and MRI also helps to identify the causes of pathologies that have arisen. MRI allows you to see even small-focal degenerative changes, which at first do not cause concern, but in the end often lead to a stroke, as well as foci with increased echogenicity of vascular origin, which often indicate the oncological nature of disorders.

Focal changes in the brain of vascular origin on MRI, depending on the location and size, can be indicators of disorders such as:

Hemispheres of the brain - a possible blockage of the right vertebral artery due to embryonic anomalies or acquired atherosclerotic plaques or a hernia of the cervical spine;
The white matter of the frontal lobe of the brain is congenital, in some cases, non-life-threatening developmental anomalies, and in others, a proportionally increasing risk of life to the changing size of the lesion. Such violations may be accompanied by changes in the motor sphere;
Numerous foci of brain changes - pre-stroke state, senile dementia,;

Treatment and prognosis

There is no single reason for the occurrence of foci of changes in the brain, only hypothetical factors that lead to the onset of pathology. Therefore, treatment consists of the basic postulates of maintaining health and specific therapy:

The patient's daily routine and diet No. 10. The patient's day should be built on a stable principle, with rational physical activity, rest time and timely and proper nutrition, which includes foods with organic acids (baked or fresh apples, cherries, sauerkraut), seafood and walnuts. Patients at risk or already diagnosed with focal changes should limit the use of hard cheeses, cottage cheese and dairy products, due to the danger of excess calcium, which these products are rich in. This can cause difficult oxygen exchange in the blood, which leads to ischemia and single focal changes in the brain substance.
Drug therapy with drugs that affect the blood circulation of the brain, stimulate it, dilate blood vessels and reduce the viscosity of the bloodstream, in order to avoid thrombosis with the subsequent development of ischemia;
Analgesic medicinal substances aimed at relieving pain;
Sedative sedation of the patient and B vitamins;
Hypo or depending on the existing pathology of blood pressure;
Reducing stress factors, reducing anxiety.

It is impossible to give an unambiguous forecast regarding the development of the disease. The patient's condition will depend on many factors, in particular, on the age and condition of the patient, the presence of concomitant pathologies of organs and their systems, the size and nature of focal disorders, the degree of their development, and the dynamics of changes.

The key factor is the constant diagnostic monitoring of the state of the brain, including preventive measures for the prevention and early detection of pathologies and control of an existing focal disorder in order to avoid the progression of pathology.

Video

All types of circulatory disorders in the human body also affect the substance of the brain, which ultimately affects its integrity and the possibilities of normal functioning.

And the "starvation" of cells, which is provoked by a violation or complete cessation of blood supply (in medicine, this process is called ischemia), causes a change in the substance of the brain of a dystrophic nature. That is, degeneration, and sometimes, although very rarely, even the disappearance of tissues and a significant deterioration in their function.

We will talk more about this pathological condition in the article.

Types of change

In medicine, dystrophic manifestations in the substance of the brain are divided into two types:

Diffuse.
Focal.

In the first case, pathological changes evenly spread to the entire brain, and not to its individual sections. They are caused both by general disturbances in the functioning of the circulatory system, and or by infections (meningitis, encephalitis, etc.).

Diffuse changes are manifested mainly by a decrease in a person’s working capacity, a dull headache, difficulties in switching to another type of activity, a narrowing of the patient’s circle of interests, apathy and sleep disorders.

And what is a focal change in the substance of the brain of a dystrophic nature, can be understood already by the fact that various minor pathologies can cause it:

cysts (small cavities that form in the brain)
medium-sized foci of necrosis (tissue death in some areas, caused by a lack of nutrient intake);
gliomesodermal (intracerebral) scars that occur after injuries and concussions;
minor changes in the structure of the medulla.

That is, these are pathologies that cause circulatory disorders in a small area. True, they can be both single and multiple.

Causes of dystrophy

The full picture of the appearance of dystrophic changes is not yet clear to researchers. But numerous observations led to the conclusion that most cases of this pathology have a genetic predisposition. The action of provoking factors only accelerates the development of the process or enhances its manifestation.

Therefore, the causes that cause focal changes in the substance of the brain of a dystrophic nature can be safely divided into genetic anomalies and acquired ones. Although it should be noted that acquired causes are still a very conditional definition in this case, since they begin their destructive effect only if the patient has a tendency to this pathology.

Focal change in the substance of the brain of a dystrophic nature: symptoms of the development of the disease

Symptoms of a change in the substance of the brain of a dystrophic nature are most often manifested quite clearly, but, unfortunately, this happens when the disease is already strongly progressing. Therefore, it is important to pay attention to the appearance of even small deviations in the state of health.

Is there an age limit for the disease?

It should be noted that single focal changes in the substance of the brain of a dystrophic nature occur not only in the elderly, but also in persons under the age of fifty.

Loads, injuries, stressful situations, hypertension and other provoking factors can trigger the development of focal changes. The constant overstrain experienced by many able-bodied citizens also plays its unseemly role.

Enhanced work of the brain against the background of what is available in youth, as well as ischemia in old age, can equally lead to the occurrence of foci of dystrophic changes with all the ensuing consequences. And from this it follows that timely and properly organized rest is a very important part of the prevention of the described pathology.

What diseases are accompanied by dystrophic changes in the brain

A focal change in the substance of the brain of a dystrophic nature, as a rule, is provoked by very common disorders in the functioning of blood vessels. These include:

vasomotor dystonia,
atherosclerosis,
arterial hypertension,
vascular aneurysm in the head and,
cardio-cerebral syndrome.

The diseases are also accompanied by the described irreversible changes in the brain - everyone knows the problems caused by Parkinson's, Alzheimer's or Pick's disease.

How is the diagnosis made?

The diagnosis of "focal change in the substance of the brain of a dystrophic nature" is rather difficult to establish. This requires the identification of signs of the pathologies listed above and the exclusion of other somatic diseases and possible neuroses. By the way, people with diabetes and rheumatism are also at risk.

The doctor must assess the patient's condition, as well as conduct the necessary examinations. The most accurate indications are given by an MRI study, where it is possible to identify lesions, as well as their size and localization. Tomography makes it possible to determine changes in the density of brain tissue even in the initial stage of the disease. Correct reading of the MRI results is an important step in the beginning of the treatment of the described problem.

Focal change in the substance of the brain of a dystrophic nature: treatment

As mentioned earlier, the exact cause of the named pathology has not yet been established, unfortunately. And the diseases diagnosed together with it are rather factors that only provoke the onset of its development or enhance processes that have already begun, and not the main cause of the onset of the disease.

Therefore, its treatment consists mainly in normalizing the patient's daily routine and in a proper diet, including foods that contain organic acids (baked and fresh apples, cherries, sauerkraut), as well as seafood and walnuts. The use of hard cheeses, cottage cheese and milk will have to be limited, since an excess of calcium causes difficulty in oxygen metabolism in the blood, and this supports ischemia and single focal changes in the substance of the brain of a dystrophic nature.

In addition, the patient cannot do without symptomatic therapy, which involves the appointment of drugs that affect cerebral circulation and reduce blood viscosity, taking analgesics, sedatives and B vitamins. However, this is a separate and rather extensive topic.