ch 1 clinical module: cellular adaptations

cerebral atrophy

describes the reduction of size of the cells in the cerebrum

--progressive reduction in neuron size leads to brain tissue reduction

--common feature of many diseases

PATHOPHYSIOLOGY

--may be caused by decreased stimulation, low levels of B vitamins (deficit injury), mechanical injury (TBI), or toxic injuries (encephalitis)

CLINICAL MANIFESTATIONS

--may be focal (localized) or global (entire brain)

--as neurons atrophy, the function associated with/them also becomes altered

-->ex. basal ganglia: movement disorders; frontal/temporal lobes= cognitive decline; hippocampus= memory disorders (Alzeimer's)

--may cause Cerebral Palsy if occuring during brain developmental periods

DIAGNOSIS

1. determine underlying pathology

2. diagnose early to restore maximum function

3. take a careful history

--s/s, onset, duration, severity

4. functional imaging

--positron emission tomography (PET), single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), CT, MRI

TREATMENT

--targeted towards preventing or slowing continued patholog

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