Alcoholic brain atrophy

Alcoholic cerebral atrophy refers to the irreversible reduction of brain tissue caused by chronic alcohol consumption. Whether this disease constitutes an independent clinicopathological disease is controversial. Some authors believe that alcoholic brain atrophy is a pathological concept, the term originally derived from the study of encephalography. Especially refers to relatively young alcoholics, clinically or without symptoms of cerebral lesions, and encephalography shows enlarged lateral ventricles and widened frontal sulci. Corresponding findings have been made in modern imaging. The mechanism is unknown, and may be related to direct brain damage and nutritional disorders, especially vitamin B1 deficiency. It is more common in elderly men who drink a lot of alcohol for a long time. The onset is hidden and progresses slowly. Early anxiety, headache, insomnia, fatigue, etc. often occur. Gradually appear intellectual decline and personality changes. In addition, some patients may have peripheral neuropathy, muscle atrophy, and even severe alcoholism such as tremors, hallucinations, delusions, and seizures. Skull CT showed the symmetry of the lateral ventricle and the brain atrophy such as the widening of the sulci, interhemispheric fissure and lateral fissure.

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