What is Cerebral atrophy?
Cerebral atrophy refers to wasting away or loss of brain cells over time. This wasting away of the brain cells may occur in just one part of the brain, or the entire brain as a whole.
It leads to reduced brain mass and size, and also a loss of neurological function. This means a loss of brain function which may affect the life of an affected individual, according to the part of the brain that has atrophied.
With old age, some cerebral atrophy or brain-wasting is expected. Cerebral atrophy is one of the symptoms of Alzheimer’s. However, in younger individuals, it may be the result of a rare disease, or inherited disorder.
Understanding nervous system-related symptoms and features.
Symptoms may affect multiple parts of the body. Understanding which part of the body a symptom affects, can help us to better understand the potential underlying causes of a symptom, including a rare disease or genetic syndrome.
The nervous system is made up of a network of nerves and cells that carry messages to and from both the brain and the spinal cord. Within the nervous system are the Central nervous system and the Peripheral nervous system.
The brain and spinal cord make up the central nervous system.
Within the peripheral nervous system are the somatic and autonomic nervous systems. The somatic system controls responses to sensory stimuli, while the autonomic nervous system controls the inner workings of organs, including digestion, breathing, and the heartbeat.
Sleep is one body function, controlled by the autonomic nervous system, specifically the sympathetic nervous system.
Cognitive and Memory Impairment: Cerebral atrophy often leads to difficulties with memory, thinking, and problem-solving, resulting in cognitive decline.
Motor Function and Coordination Issues: Symptoms may include muscle weakness, poor coordination, difficulty walking, and tremors due to the loss of brain cells controlling movement.
What should I do next?
In some instances, cerebral atrophy may be one of the features of a rare disease or genetic syndrome. To find out if someone with Cerebral Atrophy, may be due to a genetic syndrome, it is important to have a consultation and evaluation with a clinical genetic specialist. Specialists may also suggest specific genetic testing or other types of tests to help reach a diagnosis. FDNA’s AI technology can help speed up the diagnostic process by analyzing facial features and other health information.