What causes white matter lesions on the brain?
What causes white matter lesions on the brain?
White spots on a brain MRI are not always a reason for concern. There are many possible causes, including vitamin deficiencies, infections, migraines, and strokes. Other risk factors for white spots include age, genetics, obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and high cholesterol.
How do white matter lesions affect the brain?
While white matter disease has been associated with strokes, cognitive loss, and dementia, it also has some physical and emotional symptoms such as balance problems, falls, depression, and difficulty multitasking (e.g., walking and talking.)
Can brain lesions Cause Anxiety?
Sometimes patients with organic brain lesions in neurologically silent brain areas might present only with psychiatric symptoms, such as depression, anxiety disorders, schizophrenia, anorexia nervosa, or cognitive dysfunction.
Can white matter disease cause dementia?
The life expectancy after a diagnosis of white matter disease depends on the speed it progresses and the severity of any other conditions it may cause, like stroke and dementia. White matter disease is believed to be a factor in both strokes and dementia.
Does depression cause white matter lesions?
Cerebral white matter lesions (WMLs) are thought to result from cerebrovascular brain damage. Within the clinical setting, severity of WML has been related with the presence of depression11-13 and with poor outcome of depression.
Can extreme stress cause brain lesions?
Psychological stress is linked to multiple sclerosis (MS) severity (e.g., to a heightened risk of brain lesion development).
What causes damage to the white matter of the brain?
Lots of different diseases, as well as injuries and toxic substances, can cause damage to the white matter. High blood pressure (hypertension ) is a very common cause. Other causes include diabetes mellitus, high cholesterol and smoking. Other factors such as genetics are likely to play a role.
What are white matter lesions on an MRI scan?
Deterioration of the white matter happens with ageing and can be seen on brain scans as white matter lesions (abnormal areas). These appear as bright areas or white matter ‘hyperintensities’ on some brain MRI scans.
What happens if you have white matter lesions?
Very often, white matter lesions don’t cause any noticeable problems for the individual. Sometimes, white matter disease, particularly when it is severe, can interfere with the way the brain works and the processes that it controls, including thinking and walking. This is because the nerve signals can’t get through as normal.
What causes high blood pressure and white matter lesions?
High blood pressure (hypertension) is a very common cause. Other causes include diabetes mellitus, high cholesterol and smoking. Other factors such as genetics are likely to play a role. Sometimes, white matter lesions are caused by inflammation of the brain.
