what is a white matter lesion ?
what is a white matter lesion？
White matter lesions (WMLs) are areas of abnormal myelination in the brain. These lesions are best visualized as hyperintensities on T2 weighted and FLAIR (Fluid-attenuated inversion recovery) sequences of magnetic resonance imaging. They are considered a marker of small vessel disease.2022年2月5日
In this way,What causes white matter lesions?
Major causes of periventricular white matter (PWM) lesions include normal changes from aging (then they are called UBO's, for "unidentified bright objects), small strokes, and disorders related to multiple sclerosis (MS). PWM are also correlated with vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) deficiency.
Also asked,Is it normal to have white matter lesions?
White matter lesions are among the most common incidental findings—which means the lesions have no clinical significance—on brain scans of people of any age. They may also reflect a mixture of inflammation, swelling, and damage to the myelin.
Besides,What are the symptoms of white matter lesions?
Symptoms of white matter disease may include:
- issues with balance.
- walking slow.
- more frequent falls.
- unable to do more than one thing at a time, like talking while walking.
- depression.
- unusual mood changes.
Furthermore,Should I be worried about white matter lesions?
Again there is no need to worry or to panic. Many people with these findings never develop any clinical manifestations of a disease. There are, however, some well known diseases of the white matter. The most important one is Multiple Sclerosis, also known as MS.
Do white matter lesions go away?
Sometimes a white spot can go away if treated—for example, if it is an infection or brain tumor. They may also temporarily get smaller and possibly worsen again later. This is often the case with inflammatory conditions such as lupus or MS that flare up and then improve.
What does white matter on a brain MRI mean?
White matter disease is commonly detected on brain MRI of aging individuals as white matter hyperintensities (WMH), or 'leukoaraiosis.” Over the years it has become increasingly clear that the presence and extent of WMH is a radiographic marker of small cerebral vessel disease and an important predictor of the life- ...
Can stress cause white matter lesions?
White matter dynamically changes in response to learning, stress, and social experiences. Several lines of evidence have reported white matter dysfunction in psychiatric conditions, including depression, stress- and anxiety-related disorders.
Are white matter changes serious?
Originally, white matter disease was considered a normal, age-related change. But over the last decade, medical experts have come to understand that the presence of large areas of disease in the white matter of the brain are associated with cognitive decline and dementia in patients.
Is white matter disease the same as dementia?
White matter has a legitimate position in the study of dementia. The neuropathology of white matter disorders is typically diffuse or widespread, thus disrupting many networks simultaneously and producing a multi-domain syndrome that merits the term dementia.
What does white matter on a CT scan mean?
White matter disease is the wearing away of tissue in the largest and deepest part of your brain that has a number of causes, including aging. This tissue contains millions of nerve fibers, or axons, that connect other parts of the brain and spinal cord and signal your nerves to talk to one another.
What disease affects the white matter in the brain?
Leukodystrophies are a group of rare, genetic disorders that affect the white matter of the brain. The word leukodystrophy comes from leuko, which means white, and dystrophy, which means imperfect growth. Leukodystrophies are characterized by this abnormal growth of white matter in the brain.
Can white matter disease cause death?
In general, the prognosis is grave, with the majority of patients dying after a few years. However, some die only after several months, and some manage to survive for several decades [6].