What abnormalities will occur when the brain begins to "shrink"? Don't take it lightly!

Mr. Song, 77, has suffered from a worse memory in recent months. His family noticed that he was always slow to respond, he forgot what he had for breakfast by the evening, and he couldn't remember the phone numbers he was familiar with before , so they decided to take him to the hospital for a check-up.

At the hospital, the doctor performed a CT scan of Mr. Song's head. The results showed that Mr. Song had multiple cerebral cavities on both sides of his brain, some of the lesions had softened, and he also had a history of hypertension and diabetes. In the end, the doctor diagnosed Mr. Song with vascular dementia , a condition in which cognitive dysfunction occurs due to cerebrovascular disease. Fortunately, after timely treatment, Mr. Song's memory loss symptoms were alleviated and his condition gradually stabilized.

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Doctors remind: Repeated cerebrovascular diseases can easily lead to brain atrophy and dementia, but vascular dementia is preventable and treatable, mainly by preventing risk factors such as high blood pressure , hyperlipidemia, diabetes, coronary heart disease, reduced immunity, smoking and drinking, etc.

What is brain atrophy?

Simply put, brain shrinkage means that the brain has become smaller in size. Imagine if we compare the brain to a space filled with balloons, as these balloons gradually lose gas, the entire space becomes empty - this is the process of brain shrinkage.

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This change may be the result of natural aging (physiological) or due to other health problems (pathological). For example, factors such as high blood pressure, diabetes, smoking and alcohol abuse may accelerate this process.

The brain begins to "shrink", and the body will have these 3 major abnormalities

1. Memory loss

This is one of the earliest and most common signs of depression. If you find yourself frequently forgetting things that just happened or having a hard time retaining new information , this is a warning sign.

2. Personality and behavior changes

Some people may become more withdrawn and unwilling to participate in social activities; others may experience mood swings, anxiety or depression for no reason, etc. If your family and friends feel that your personality has changed significantly, it is best to go to the hospital for a check-up.

3. Weakened motor coordination

****As the disease progresses, some patients will find that they have difficulty performing daily activities. For example, dressing and eating are no longer as easy as before, and walking may become unsteady .

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What are the characteristics of brain atrophy in different parts?

In fact, brain atrophy can be divided into several types depending on the specific location of the damage:

Frontal lobe atrophy: affects voluntary movements and mental state;

Temporal lobe atrophy: impairs memory and emotional expression;

Parietal lobe atrophy: interferes with visual spatial perception;

Occipital lobe atrophy: causes visual impairment;

Limbic system atrophy: causes emotional abnormalities;

Cerebral cortical atrophy: manifested as movement disorders such as limb weakness, sensory abnormalities such as limb numbness, and memory loss;

Cerebellar atrophy: manifested as ataxia and dysphagia, etc.

How to prevent brain atrophy?

Although brain atrophy is difficult to completely avoid, we can reduce the likelihood of it happening in some ways:

Maintain good living habits, including proper diet, moderate exercise, adequate sleep, quit smoking and limit alcohol consumption;

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Have regular physical examinations, monitor blood pressure and blood sugar levels, and actively treat chronic diseases;

Participate in more social activities, maintain mental health, and avoid long-term excessive stress;

Learn new knowledge, stimulate brain vitality and slow down the aging process.