Ischemic changes in the white matter

With the increase in patients with three highs, more and more people are suffering from brain diseases, and the trend is that they are getting younger. If the patient often feels dizzy and heavy, his blood pressure fluctuates, his memory is impaired, he has temporary intellectual impairment, walks unsteadily and is prone to falling, then he may be suffering from ischemic white matter disease. So, what exactly is ischemic white matter disease? Let’s take a look together.

1. Concept

Ischemic leukoencephalopathy, also known as ischemic white matter demyelination or white matter ischemia, ischemic changes in the white matter. It is a structural change of the brain, characterized by myelin damage to central nervous system cells. The lesions involve white matter bundles that specialize in performing higher-level brain functions.

2. Diagnosis

Head imaging examinations showed insufficient intracranial blood supply and structural changes in the white matter.

3. Causes

This condition is a neurological disease caused by ischemia of brain cells and is also related to high blood pressure and poor cerebral vascular elasticity. In addition, elderly people with depression are prone to ischemic leukoencephalopathy.

Symptoms

1. Some patients have mild and unobvious early symptoms.

2. Depression and decreased cognitive function. It mostly occurs in elderly patients, who often have poor attention and executive function, lack of pleasure, and cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. and lacunar infarctions, but these patients rarely have a family history of depression, indicating that vascular disease is the underlying cause.

2. Physical disability and reduced motor function. Ischemic leukoencephalopathy is associated with physical impairment or disability and decreased motor function. People with severe white matter damage often have unstable gait, reduced mobility and easy falls, and even serious trauma, especially hip fractures.

3. Others: sensory impairment, pain, urinary incontinence, sleep disorders, etc. These symptoms are closely related to white matter connectivity disruption and remodeling disorders.

IV. Hazards

1. It is prone to recurrence and delayed nerve damage, which can easily lead to cerebral stroke and/or make the prognosis of stroke poor. In severe cases, it can be life-threatening and increase the risk of stroke, cognitive decline and Alzheimer's disease.

2. The severity of white matter lesions in patients with ischemic stroke is related to the disability rate and can lead to hemiplegia and paralysis.

3. Brain atrophy or dementia may occur, causing damage to cognitive function and emotions.

5. Treatment

1. Early detection and timely intervention can achieve reconstruction of white matter structure and functional recovery to a certain extent.

2. This disease is closely related to kidney deficiency and marrow loss, as well as blood stasis and collateral obstruction in traditional Chinese medicine. It can be treated with Chinese medicine to nourish the kidney and brain, and to promote blood circulation and dredge collaterals.

3. Anti-platelet aggregation drugs, blood circulation and nerve nourishing drugs, etc. can be used to improve and restore brain circulation and blood supply as much as possible.

6. Prevention

1. Strengthen physical exercise on weekdays, preferably morning exercises and a walk after meals.

2. The elderly should use their brains more, communicate more with others, keep a happy mood and avoid depression.

3. In terms of diet, focus on light and nutritious ingredients to avoid the three highs.