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What Does The Brain MRI Result Indicate?
Question: I recently had a MRI of the brain as I experienced a brief bout of vertigo. The report includes a statement that :Global volume loss, more that expected for my age (72) more than likely the result of chronic white matter microvascular ischemic disease No evidence of intercranial hemorrhage no evidence of extra axial fluid collections. ventricles sulci and normal, no evidence of abnormal restricted diffusion. Basal cisterns are patent. Both globes have lost their normal rounded configuration. My Father passed from Alzheimer's at the age of 82 What is my next step?
Brief Answer:
Address vascular risk factors.
Detailed Answer:
I read your query and I understand your concern.
First of all I would like to say that global volume loss is an indicator of cerebral functions, but a certain volume loss is always found with age and its amount not always corresponds to the brain capabilities, so while it is wise to ask whether you should do something about it, it is no reason to panic if you have no other symptoms other than that episode of vertigo.
That MRI report indicates chronic white matter disease, meaning that the small blood vessels have a narrowing in their diameter causing a diminution of the overall blood supply and some distal regions do suffer from it. To a certain extent it is a commonly found phenomenon with age, but I suppose in your MRI images it is over the norm. It has been found by coincidence and shouldn't be the cause of your transitory bout of vertigo.
In order to slow down this process in the future you should investigate for and address predisposing and accelerating factors such as high blood pressure, diabetes, smoking, high cholesterol. Treating these conditions (if present) is the only thing you can do to influence the process. Of course there are other possible factors like age, amyloid angiopathy etc but one can't alter them.
If the process is advanced it can cause dementia, but it must not be confounded with Alzheimer's dementia like in your father's case, it's of another type, it's called vascular dementia.
I remain at your disposal for further questions.
Address vascular risk factors.
Detailed Answer:
I read your query and I understand your concern.
First of all I would like to say that global volume loss is an indicator of cerebral functions, but a certain volume loss is always found with age and its amount not always corresponds to the brain capabilities, so while it is wise to ask whether you should do something about it, it is no reason to panic if you have no other symptoms other than that episode of vertigo.
That MRI report indicates chronic white matter disease, meaning that the small blood vessels have a narrowing in their diameter causing a diminution of the overall blood supply and some distal regions do suffer from it. To a certain extent it is a commonly found phenomenon with age, but I suppose in your MRI images it is over the norm. It has been found by coincidence and shouldn't be the cause of your transitory bout of vertigo.
In order to slow down this process in the future you should investigate for and address predisposing and accelerating factors such as high blood pressure, diabetes, smoking, high cholesterol. Treating these conditions (if present) is the only thing you can do to influence the process. Of course there are other possible factors like age, amyloid angiopathy etc but one can't alter them.
If the process is advanced it can cause dementia, but it must not be confounded with Alzheimer's dementia like in your father's case, it's of another type, it's called vascular dementia.
I remain at your disposal for further questions.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
Answered by
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