White matter is the deepest part of the brain and contains millions of nerve fibers that connect other parts of the brain and spinal cord. Nerve fibers are surrounded by a fatty substance called myelin that protects the nerve fibers and makes them white.
White matter lesions are often nonspecific and may not suggest any specific cause. The disease is often discovered incidentally on brain MRI scans.
There are many causes of white matter damage, the most common being aging. White matter lesions are mainly seen in the elderly, rarely seen in young people. People with high blood pressure, diabetes, high blood fat, encephalitis, head injuries… are at higher risk because they easily damage small blood vessels in the brain, which can cause long-term degeneration of white matter. .
This lesion is nonspecific and is sometimes seen in chronic migraine syndrome. Some other factors such as smoking, alcohol abuse or stimulant use, toxic exposure or genetics can also cause damage to the brain’s white matter.
3 Tesla MRI scan helps diagnose white matter damage in the brain. Illustration photo: Tam Anh General Clinic, District 7
This condition is usually not life-threatening. Some severe cases of the disease can affect brain activity, causing nerve signals to not be transmitted as normal, leading to memory-related disorders and slowness in thinking and action.
There is currently no specific treatment for white matter lesions. You should take your father for regular check-ups at the Neurology department. Depending on the disease condition, severity of symptoms and underlying disease, the doctor will prescribe appropriate treatment and disease control methods.
Prevent white matter damage from appearing early and progressing quickly by adjusting modifiable factors such as hypertension, diabetes, high blood fat, not smoking, limiting alcohol consumption, and getting medical check-ups. regular health.