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Unsteady Gait And Vertigo. MRI Showing Mild Diffuse Cerebral Atropathy And Ishemic Changes Of The Pons. Can You Simplify?
Question: Just had a Brain and Brain stem MRI w/wo contrast. Unsteady gait and episodes of vertigo. Results showed Mild diffuse cerebral atrophy and microvascular ischemic changes of the pons. In layman terms, what does this mean? Thanks. I'm a 63 year old female.
Hello,
Thanks for your query.
I appreciate your efforts for medical consultation in so much distress.
Important aspects of your query are:
• 63 year old female
• Known case of hypertension and high cholesterol
• Currently on sertaline and multiple anti hypertensives
• MRI showing diffuse cerebral atrophy and microvascular ischemic changes of the pons
MRI findings mean that size of your brain decrease and there is some changes in pons part of brain related to decrease circulation.
These changes can occur because of following reasons (in order of preference in your case): Age related +/-
• Vascular dementia (Due to small and repeated strokes).
• Alzheimer dementia.
Your unsteady gait and vertigo may be sequel of structural change in brain. Apart from that vertigo type of symptoms can occur with low blood pressure. As you are already on multiple drugs so get monitoring of BP done to rule out low blood pressure.
For treatment you should continue your medicine for hypertension and sertaline as it is common to have depression in early stages of dementia.
I hope this information has been both informative and helpful for you. In case of any doubt, I will be available for follow ups.
Wish you good health.
Regards,
Thanks for your query.
I appreciate your efforts for medical consultation in so much distress.
Important aspects of your query are:
• 63 year old female
• Known case of hypertension and high cholesterol
• Currently on sertaline and multiple anti hypertensives
• MRI showing diffuse cerebral atrophy and microvascular ischemic changes of the pons
MRI findings mean that size of your brain decrease and there is some changes in pons part of brain related to decrease circulation.
These changes can occur because of following reasons (in order of preference in your case): Age related +/-
• Vascular dementia (Due to small and repeated strokes).
• Alzheimer dementia.
Your unsteady gait and vertigo may be sequel of structural change in brain. Apart from that vertigo type of symptoms can occur with low blood pressure. As you are already on multiple drugs so get monitoring of BP done to rule out low blood pressure.
For treatment you should continue your medicine for hypertension and sertaline as it is common to have depression in early stages of dementia.
I hope this information has been both informative and helpful for you. In case of any doubt, I will be available for follow ups.
Wish you good health.
Regards,
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Yogesh D
Answered by
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