What Does The Following MRI Result Indicate?
I am 64 yrs old. My report says
1. "Moderate chronic microvascular ischemic changes are evident. There is also diffuse cerebral volume loss."
It also says.
2."There are scattered and confluent foci of hyperintense T2/FLAIR signal abnormality in the periventricular and deep white matter consistent with moderate chronic microvascular ischemic disease".
Besides addressing both of those, my main question is "Do either of those things say that I have the beginning stages of dementia or Alzheimer's disease?
Atrophy&ischemic change may be one of the feature ofDementia or Alzheimer's
Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXX
In MRI(Brain),T2 weighted/FLAIR tiny hyper intensities in the periventricular and deep white matter of brain is mostly due to ischemic changes(decreased blood supply) that involves small blood vessels.
However,demyelination,post traumatic sequel etc should also be ruled out with follow up scans.
Ischemic changes generally occurs in conditions like hypertension,altered lipid profile,diabetes mellitus.As you don't have any of these common conditions,other causes like vasculitis etc should be ruled out.
There are also changes of cerebral cortical atrophy.It is evident by diffuse cerebral volume loss.It is expected finding in your age.It is related to aging.
Dementia or Alzheimer's disease need clinical correlation and further investigations.Only cerebral cortical atrophy is not confirmatory of dementia or alzheimer's disease though it is one of the findings of these conditions.
Ischemic changes may lead to dementia in some patients.This need clinical correlation in your case.
Your condition need proper evaluation for ischemia.
Get well soon.
Hope i have answered your query.
Further queries are most welcome.
Take Care
Dr.Indu XXXXXXX
Ischemia means decreased blood supply and less oxygenation.
Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXX
Ischemia is a condition in which there is decreased blood supply which leads to less oxygenation.
Get well soon.
Hope I have answered your query.
Further queries are most welcome.
Take Care
Dr.Indu XXXXXXX