cerebral atrophy definition
Cerebral atrophy refers to the progressive loss of brain cells over time. Atrophy refers to a decreased size or wasting away of any part of the body.Cerebral atrophy can happen in either the entire brain or in just one part of the brain and can lead to decreased brain mass and loss of neurological function.The symptoms of cerebral atrophy depend on the cause and location of cell death.erebral atrophy can occur due to brain injury, as in the case of stroke, or to a neurological disease, such as Alzheimerâs disease, cerebral palsy, or Huntingtonâs disease.
Cerebral atrophy is a common feature of many of the diseases that affect the brain.Atrophy of any tissue means a decrement in the size of the cell, which can be due to progressive loss of cytoplasmic proteins. In brain tissue, atrophy describes a loss of neurons and the connections between them.Atrophy can be generalized, which means that all of the brain has shrunk; or it can be focal, affecting only a limited area of the brain and resulting in a decrease of the functions that area of the brain controls.any diseases that cause cerebral atrophy are associated with dementia, seizures, and a group of language disorders called the aphasias. Dementia is characterized by a progressive impairment of memory and intellectual function that is severe enough to interfere with social and work skills.