Brain diseases with organic changes

What are the types of organic brain lesions?

The brain can be damaged at any age. OGM is formed as a result of pathological changes, most often they are irreversible. Examples of lesions can be a tumor, benign or malignant cyst, atherosclerosis. Changes can be local or diffuse.

With the first, one type of activity “suffers,” for example, memory. With diffuse, the clinical picture is broader.

Types of brain damage:

• The occurrence of pathology against the background of serious diseases of the heart, nervous system, and blood vessels.

This disease manifests itself in the process of atherosclerotic lesions of cerebral vessels, Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases. With atherosclerosis, the brain lacks oxygen or nutrients, and the nervous system gradually begins to die.

In Alzheimer's disease, plaques form in the soft brain tissue, which are 90% composed of amyloid protein. Its increased content prevents neurons from forming and developing.

• The occurrence of pathology against the background of an illness of internal organs.

Organic brain damage can progress rapidly if the body’s liver or kidneys are not functioning well. These changes can occur due to large accumulations of toxins, which can negatively affect the functioning of all vital organs and destroy all neural connections.

If you notice the symptoms of the disease in time, then with proper treatment you can cope with dementia. But just getting rid of harmful toxins will not be enough to fight, and treatment with medications will be required.

• Intoxication.

In most cases, brain damage occurs due to exposure to large quantities of alcoholic beverages, surrogates, and low-quality tobacco. This pathology may occur against the background of kidney disease and liver failure. Penetrating into soft tissues, they negatively affect neural connections, possibly causing complications in the form of dementia or coma.

Useful to know: Alzheimer's disease: how to distinguish the first symptoms and signs

Organic damage to the entire brain cavity can occur due to poisoning with arsenic, nitrogen, pesticides, carbon monoxide, low-quality household chemicals, mushrooms, heavy metals, or taking large amounts of medication.

The degree of brain damage can vary, it all depends on the amount of toxic substance and the depth of tissue damage. Intoxication psychoses and hallucinations are possible. To stabilize the patient’s condition, the doctor may prescribe a sedative and medications that support the normal functioning of the cardiovascular system.

• Traumatic brain injury.

After a serious traumatic brain injury, consequences may occur. They can stay for the rest of their lives. In the “best” case, periodic headaches and dizziness are possible. If the case is complex, then the manifestation of psychoorganic syndrome, paralysis, visual impairment, hearing impairment, and paresis is possible.

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Poisoning

Poisoning (intoxication) in humans is caused by alcoholism, drug addiction, smoking, eating poisonous mushrooms, and inhaling carbon monoxide. There may also be an overdose of medications. Symptoms depend on what exactly the poisoning occurred with.

Poisoning often causes impairment of consciousness, even to the point of coma. An overdose of psychostimulant drugs causes visual, tactile, and auditory hallucinations. Patients experience euphoria, disinhibition, and increased motor activity.

Chronic intoxications, such as alcoholism, smoking, drug addiction, are characterized by:

• lethargy;
• fatigue;
• depression;
• memory impairment;
• absent-minded attention;
• fading of intellect.

Symptoms

Not all individuals know what an organic lesion is. Organic brain damage does not have specific symptoms due to its complex genesis; they manifest themselves individually.

General changes: decreased activity, inability to concentrate for a long time, apathy, sloppiness.

Elderly people may forget the names of relatives, the day of the week, the date, and speech is impaired. If the disorder progresses, the patient forgets words and cannot maintain a dialogue. The emotional state has 2 types: the absence of any emotions or inadequate, aggressive behavior. There are hallucinatory attacks.

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Disturbances and changes

As a result of damage to the brain, many types of psychopathic or neurotic disorders develop. The variety of clinical manifestations is associated with the volume of the lesion and the area of ​​the defect. The greater the depth of the destruction, the clearer the clinical manifestations. The manifestation of symptoms of the disease is also influenced by a person’s personal qualities and character. General cerebral symptoms of organic pathology are manifested by the following disorders:

• general headaches, aggravated by movement, under the influence of external stimuli (noise, bright light);
• dizziness, aggravated by movement, vestibular disorders;
• nausea and vomiting not associated with food intake;
• various autonomic disorders;
• pronounced asthenic syndrome - a state of increased fatigue, irritability, unstable mood, combined with vegetative symptoms and sleep disturbances.

Focal neurological symptoms depend on which part of the brain the pathological process develops. Table 1 identifies the regions of the brain, the functions they perform, and expected neurological signs when specific regions of the brain are affected. Table 1

Organic damage in infants

Organic brain damage in children can occur already during the period of perinatal development. During intrauterine development, the fetal nervous system is very weak and vulnerable, so any unfavorable factor can negatively affect it, provoking the development of pathology.

The main reasons for the change may be:

1. hypoxia of the fetal brain;
2. alcohol consumption;
3. drugs;
4. poor nutrition;
5. chronic diseases;
6. birth injuries;
7. asphyxia;
8. early birth;
9. infection of the fetus.

Separately, it is worth saying that too “young” the age of the expectant mother can also negatively affect the development of the fetus.

Useful to know: Retrocerebellar cyst or infectious brain tumor

Brain dysfunction in a child is detected immediately after birth. The baby has impaired muscle tone, tremors, and developmental delays.

There are cases when the level of disorder of the brain organ is insignificant and it can only be detected with the help of special medical devices. In such cases, the disease is no longer curable; it only needs to be controlled. If the pathology is not noticed in time, it can gradually progress and provoke ischemic damage and cerebral hemorrhage.

Organic damage to the entire or any area of ​​the brain in children manifests itself in the form of severe headaches, poor sleep, decreased concentration, and unstable intracranial pressure. Without treatment, complications are possible: neuropathy, epilepsy, cerebral palsy.

If the pathology is detected after the baby is born and proper treatment is prescribed, then the pathology can be reversed, the main thing is to start the fight earlier.

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Consequences

As already mentioned, the vast majority of cases of perinatal encephalopathy respond well to treatment, provided that the diagnosis is made in a timely manner and the correct treatment is provided. The likelihood of consequences developing in the future is minimal.

In the case of second- and third-degree encephalopathy, the consequences of the death of central neurons on future health can be quite significant. Among them are the emergence and development of hydrocephalic syndrome, systematic migraines, attacks of dizziness, fainting, paralysis and paresis, asthenia, various neuroses and hysteria, epilepsy, hearing and vision impairment, difficulties with social adaptation, deviant behavior.

Severe forms of encephalopathy often lead to the death of a child, the development of cerebral palsy, a wide range of mental disorders, idiocy, and dementia.

Everyone knows very well that our body performs all kinds of functions thanks to the brain. It is quite natural that if there is any problem with the brain, this will affect the work of other organs and the functional abilities of a person.

Epilepsy

Unfortunately, dead cells are not restored, which leads to the irreversibility of the disease and defects may remain during recovery. For example, with a significant number of dead neurons, a person may suffer from epileptic attacks. Their frequency and strength of manifestation will depend on how far the organics have gone.

Mental retardation refers to the degree of manifestation of consequences that stands between gross impairments and defects that do not pose a threat to life. In any case, a person with this kind of consequences needs constant care.

To be more precise, the consequences of organic brain damage are influenced by the following factors:

• Localization of the lesion (location);
• Type of functionality of dead neurons;
• Number of dead neurons (damage volume);
• Causes of defeat;
• Age of the patient;
• Correctness and speed of diagnosis;
• Correctly established course of treatment;

It is recommended to contact a qualified specialist at the first slightest symptoms. A timely diagnosis of such disorders reduces the risk of serious consequences.

26.09.2016

Diagnosis

Organic diseases of the brain area must be constantly monitored, even after successful treatment and disappearance of symptoms.

The main stages of diagnosis: collecting anamnesis, examination by a neurologist, and performing a computed tomography scan of the brain.

A well-collected anamnesis allows you to see the time duration of the disorder, the degree of development, and possible hereditary factors.

Tomography helps to identify foci of inflammation.

• If the frontal lobe is damaged, the following are possible: convulsions, paralysis of the eye muscles, mental disorders, loss of smell.
• If the crown area is damaged, then the following are possible: failure of all types of senses, seizures, convulsions, decreased attention, loss of reading and counting skills.
• If the temporal lobes are damaged, then possible: loss of hearing, sense of smell, epilepsy, lack of emotionality.
• If the occipital lobes are damaged, then possible: disturbances or loss of vision, imbalance of movements, the occurrence of hallucinations, convulsions.

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A brief excursion into the anatomy of the central nervous system

The human brain is a complex organ responsible for the functioning of the entire organism. There is a clear hierarchy in the structure of the brain, which allows the entire body to work effectively. The central nervous system can be divided into several main parts:

1. The cerebral cortex is responsible for higher nervous activity, i.e. thought processes, speech, memory, writing, hearing and many other functions.
2. Subcortical structures that form the midbrain. The midbrain is responsible for the primary reflex units and the formation of unconditioned reflexes.
3. The bridge is a connecting link between all parts of the central nervous system and the cerebral cortex.
4. Cerebellum. It is located in the lower occipital part of the head and is responsible for human coordination in space.
5. The medulla oblongata connects the brain with the spinal cord and is its continuation. The medulla oblongata contains vital centers: vasomotor and respiratory.