Learn why white matter disease is common in aging, & how it's linked to cognitive decline, balance problems, vascular dementia, stroke and more.

Hello, friends, caregivers and warriors of dealing with a stroke. This is also termed “Small Vessel Disease” and also “White Matter” brain disease. Well, what’s this mean to me? It sure concerns a health giver or caregiver for sure.

Multiple T2 hyperintense foci are consistent with chronic microvascular ischemic changes.This case was donated to Radiopaedia.org by Radswiki.net.

The brain MRI revealed mild chronic ischemic small vessel disease, possibly linked to cervical spine osteochondrosis. While I’m uncertain about having osteochondrosis , practicing posture exercises...

Background and Purpose— A number of single gene disorders can cause cerebral small vessel disease. Mutations in the COL4A1 gene encoding the type IV collagen alpha 1 chain, which are already associated with porencephaly and infantile hemiparesis, have been recently recognized as a further monogenic cause of small vessel disease that can present in adulthood. Methods— We performed a systematic review of published data from 1966 to January 8, 2010 to characterize the features of small vessel disease seen with COL4A1 mutations. Results— We identified a total of 52 mutation carriers. A history of stroke was reported in 9 subjects (17.3%); in 6 cases it was attributable to subcortical hemorrhage and in 3 cases it was attributable to lacunar infarction. Stroke often occurred as first presentation of the disease, with a mean age of onset of 36.1 (SD, 12.95; range, 14–49). Hemorrhages, often recurrent, have been associated with physical trauma and activity and anticoagulant therapy. Brain imaging showed frequent leukoaraiosis (63.5%), microbleeds that are usually subcortical (52.9%), lacunar infarction (13.5%), and dilated perivascular spaces (19.2%). Extensive leukoaraiosis was seen in a number of asymptomatic adult mutation carriers. Asymptomatic intracranial aneurysms were common (44.4% of 18 with angiography). Migraine (with and without aura) was reported in 10 subjects, with a mean age at onset of 31.7. Systemic features are also frequent, affecting the eye (10/21, 47.6%), kidney (15.4%), and muscle (15.4%). Conclusions— COL4A1 is a further cause of familial vasculopathy and may present with stroke, ischemic as well as hemorrhagic, in adult life and with radiological features of leukoaraiosis and microbleeds.

A new study links cognitive decline and memory loss to cerebral small vessel disease.

Addressing risk factors early on may help curb the negative effects of cerebral small vessel disease on aging and reduce risk of neurovascular events.

Read about a study finding SLE patients have a high prevalence of cerebral small vessel disease, a possible reason for them being at a greater stroke risk.

Painless swelling centred on the right maxilla in a middle-aged female with a lesion that expands the bone, but without fracture or periosteal reaction, these features indicate an odontogenic ...

Abstract. The Virchow–Robin spaces (VRS), perivascular compartments surrounding small blood vessels as they penetrate the brain parenchyma, are increasingl

White matter hyperintensities (WMHs) are lesions in the brain that show up as areas of increased brightness on T2 Weighted MRI images. What do they signify?

Learn why white matter disease is common in aging, & how it's linked to cognitive decline, balance problems, vascular dementia, stroke and more.

The brain is an immensely complex structure, but there are ways we can divide up its anatomical structure into more discrete parts. One common divider is to separate the brain’s gray and white matter. But what are these two structures? How different are they from each other? How significant, and physiologically relevant, is this divide?

Research has found that one thing predicts how well a child would learn to read - the growth of white matter in one specific area of the brain...

Abstract. The Virchow–Robin spaces (VRS), perivascular compartments surrounding small blood vessels as they penetrate the brain parenchyma, are increasingl

Stress halts birth of new neurons and increases an insulation-forming cell, altering brain form and function

White matter hyperintensities (WMHs) are lesions in the brain that show up as areas of increased brightness on T2 Weighted MRI images. What do they signify?

Background Migraine is a common disorder in general population. Presence of white matter hyperintensities (WMHs) in brain MRI of migraine patients was not studied clearly. Detection of the prevalence of white matter hyperintensities in migraine patients determines its correlation with migraine severity, type and duration. Methods Cross sectional analytic study was conducted on migraine patients attending neurology clinic Suez Canal University Hospital. Sixty-five patients with migraine aged from 18 to 50 years were included. We excluded smokers and patients with hypertension, cardiac disease, diabetes mellitus, endocrine dysfunction, oncological and hematological diseases, infectious diseases, demyelinating disorders, and Alzheimer disease. Brain MRI and laboratory investigation was done for all patients. Results White matter hyperintensities were significant more frequent in migraine with aura than those without aura. According to MIGSEV scale, white matter hyperintensities were highly significantly more frequent in grade III severity than grades II and I. The number of white matter hyperintensities increases significantly with increase intensity of pain during attack. The number of white matter hyperintensities increases significantly with increase intensity of nausea, disability, tolerability during attack and age. Resistance to treatment also shows statistically significant difference in increase number of WMHs. Conclusions White matter hyperintensities are present in 43.1% of migraine patients. Age, presence of aura, nausea, disability during attack, resistance to treatment, and severity of headache and duration of migraine are considered a risk factor for development of white matter hyperintensities.

MR images can show the growth of white-matter lesions in the brains of older people as early as 10 years before the onset of mild cognitive impairment (MCI), according to a study by Oregon researchers.

BRAIN HEALTH AND HEALTHY AGING As you age, a healthy body is key to a healthy brain and sharp mind. Stay healthy and active to help reduce your r...

Can a migraine attack be so severe that it causes brain damage? Dr. Peter Goadsby dispels the myths around white matter lesions and migraine.

Balance is important for people as they get older. Here are some exercises for seniors to improve strength and balance.

Keep your mind sharp by cooking with these healthy foods

Eldergym® helps seniors become strong and stable even if they have never exercised before.

Eldergym® helps seniors become strong and stable even if they have never exercised before.

Falls are one of the main causes of injury in the elderly. Help your parent reduce their risk of falling with these 15 balance exercises for seniors.

White matter hyperintensities volume accelerate after menopause

Insomnia symptoms are associated with an increased risk of stroke, myocardial infarction, and other cardio-cerebral vascular disease in a dose-dependent manner.

Eldergym® helps seniors become strong and stable even if they have never exercised before.

Good sleep is essential to positivity. This is especially true for those of us in our 50s and 60s, who have a tendency to suffer from more sleep problems than we did when we were younger. It may not feel like it, but, your body is working hard while you sleep. As you slumber, your body repairs itself, consolidates memories and balances hormones. Sleep multiples happiness...

People who get less sleep, say researchers in the UK, are more likely to experience issues around chronic pain, and sleep apnea is one cause for the pain and sleep issues many people suffer from on a nightly basis.

Extensive chronic small vessel ischaemic changes is the most striking finding.Mild parietal volume loss and quite striking anterior hippocampal and temporal lobe atrophy may also suggest co-existin...

10 common causes of confusion, memory, or thinking problems in older adults, plus 10 things doctors should check during an assessment for cognitive decline.