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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Is Excessive Tiredness And Chronic Headaches A Sign Of Progressing Cerebral Atrophy?

73 male,diagnosed with mild cerebral atrophy 4 y ago, suffering from excessive tiredness ,chronic headaches recently more localised towards frontal, hypersomnia, loosing my voice. still trying to run as sport and had a fall but no impact on head few months ago. could that be chronic sub dural haematoma or progressing cerebral atrophy ?no scan available but would need to travel if scan required.
Thu, 12 Dec 2019
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Neurologist 's  Response
Hello,

Your symptoms would not be explained by cerebral atrophy. It's hard for me to say what "mild cerebral atrophy" means without actually being able to see the images for myself. That being said, a small amount of atrophy (brain shrinkage) occurs with normal aging, and I'm suspecting that that is what the radiologist saw. As such it would not explain your symptoms.

If you did not have a head impact a subdural hematoma is unlikely and typically would also cause other focal neurological symptoms such as weakness, headaches, numbness and tingling, possibly loss of coordination depending on where it is located. Headaches are very nonspecific and unless you have never had headaches before, or the type of headache you have had has changed in quality, it does not warrant re-imaging. However, if it has markedly changes or it is a new onset headache, then an MRI should be done.

For the fatigue, I would recommend a full blood workup for vitamin B12, folate, TSH, CMP and CBC with differential to start to look for any blood abnormalities. If all are negative, then a cortisol test is reasonable. If your sleep hasn't is not evaluate, that should also be done. As we age obstructive sleep apnea becomes more common and can cause very nonspecific symptoms of fatigue and headaches due to poor sleep quality. If you are experiencing any symptoms of depression and anxiety, those should also be manages as they can result in non-specific fatigue.

Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.

Regards,
Dr. Janne Nissinen, Neurologist
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Is Excessive Tiredness And Chronic Headaches A Sign Of Progressing Cerebral Atrophy?

Hello, Your symptoms would not be explained by cerebral atrophy. It s hard for me to say what mild cerebral atrophy means without actually being able to see the images for myself. That being said, a small amount of atrophy (brain shrinkage) occurs with normal aging, and I m suspecting that that is what the radiologist saw. As such it would not explain your symptoms. If you did not have a head impact a subdural hematoma is unlikely and typically would also cause other focal neurological symptoms such as weakness, headaches, numbness and tingling, possibly loss of coordination depending on where it is located. Headaches are very nonspecific and unless you have never had headaches before, or the type of headache you have had has changed in quality, it does not warrant re-imaging. However, if it has markedly changes or it is a new onset headache, then an MRI should be done. For the fatigue, I would recommend a full blood workup for vitamin B12, folate, TSH, CMP and CBC with differential to start to look for any blood abnormalities. If all are negative, then a cortisol test is reasonable. If your sleep hasn t is not evaluate, that should also be done. As we age obstructive sleep apnea becomes more common and can cause very nonspecific symptoms of fatigue and headaches due to poor sleep quality. If you are experiencing any symptoms of depression and anxiety, those should also be manages as they can result in non-specific fatigue. Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further. Regards, Dr. Janne Nissinen, Neurologist