Cerebellar damage can be caused by a variety of consequences. This is due to the fact that it is associated with almost all parts of the human body, in particular, with the nervous system. As a rule, numerous unpleasant symptoms and the appearance of problems with this organ are most often called cerebellar ataxia. It manifests itself in the form of coordination disorder, imbalance, etc. In this case, a person cannot stay in the same position for a long time.
Some of the symptoms of a cerebellar lesion can be seen with the naked eye. However, more complex hidden signs can be revealed only with the help of special laboratory samples. The effectiveness of the treatment of these pathologies depends on the causes of the lesions.
Main Functions
The cerebellum does a huge amount of work. First of all, it maintains and distributes muscle tone, which is necessary to keep the human body in balance. Thanks to the work of this organ, a person can perform a motor function. Therefore, speaking about the function and symptoms of cerebellar lesions, the doctor, firstturn, checks the person's coordination. This is because this organ helps maintain and distribute muscle tone at the same time. For example, by bending a leg, a person simultaneously tenses the flexor and relaxes the extensor.
In addition, the cerebellum distributes energy and minimizes the contraction of the muscles that are involved in the performance of a particular work. In addition, this organ is necessary for motor learning. This means that during training or developing professional skills, the body remembers which muscle groups contract and tighten.
If there are no symptoms of damage to the cerebellum, and its functioning is normal, then in this case the person feels good. If at least one of the parts of this organ suffers from a lesion, then it becomes more difficult for the patient to perform certain functions, or he simply cannot move.
Neurological pathology
Due to the defeat of this important organ, a huge number of serious ailments can develop. If we talk about neurology and symptoms of damage to the cerebellum, then it is worth noting the most important danger. Damage to this organ leads to circulatory disorders. The appearance of this pathology can lead to:
- Ischemic stroke and other heart diseases.
- Multiple sclerosis.
- Craniocerebral injury. In this case, the lesion should not always affect the cerebellum, it is enough if at least one of its connections is broken.
- Meningitis.
- Diseasesdegenerative type, as well as anomalies caused in the nervous system.
- Intoxication.
- Overdose of certain medications.
- Vitamin B12 deficiency.
- Obstructive hydrocephalus.
In neurology, symptoms of cerebellar damage are quite common. Therefore, first of all, it is necessary to visit a specialist in this area.
Cause of diseases of the cerebellum
In this case, we can talk about injuries, congenital underdevelopment of this area, circulatory disorders, the consequences of long-term drug use. Also, this can happen due to poisoning with toxins.
If a patient is diagnosed with a congenital defect in the development of this organ, then in this case we are talking about the fact that the person suffers from a disease called Marie's ataxia. This pathology refers to dynamic ailments.
Symptoms of damage to the cerebellum and pathways may indicate stroke, trauma, cancer, infections and other pathologies occurring in the nervous system. Similar ailments are experienced by people who have had a fracture of the base of the skull or damage to the occipital region of the head.
If a person suffers from atherosclerotic vascular disease, this can also provoke a violation of the blood supply to the cerebellum. However, the list of all ailments does not end there. Damage to the carotid artery and vascular spasms that turn into hypoxia can also provoke a similar condition.
In addition, it must be borne in mind that most often the symptoms characteristic of cerebellar damage occur in older people. This is due to the fact that their vessels lose their elasticity over time and are affected by atherosclerosis and cholesterol plaques. Because of this, their walls can not withstand strong pressure and begin to break. This hemorrhage provokes tissue ischemia.
Signs of pathology
If we talk about the main symptoms of damage to the cerebellum of the brain, then among them is ataxia, which can manifest itself in different ways. However, most often a person begins to tremble in the head and the whole body, even with a calm position of the body. Muscle weakness and poor coordination of movements are manifested. If one of the hemispheres of the brain is damaged, then human movements will be asymmetrical.
Also, patients suffer from tremors. In addition, there are severe problems in the process of flexion and extension of the limbs. Many have hypothermia. If symptoms characteristic of a cerebellar lesion occur, the patient may experience disturbances in the motor act. In this case, when moving towards a certain goal, a person begins to perform pendulum-inverse actions. In addition, a problem with the cerebellum can cause hyperreflexia, gait disturbance, and severe handwriting changes. It is also worth considering the varieties of ataxia of this organ.
Static-locomotor
In this case, violations are most pronounced when walking a person. Any movement brings the strongest load, because of which the body becomes weaker. In this case, it is difficult for a personbe in a position where the heels and toes of the feet are in contact. Difficulty falling forward, backward, or swaying sideways. In order to take a stable position, a person needs to spread his legs wide apart. There is a very unsteady gait and outwardly the patient, who shows symptoms of cerebellar damage, resembles a drunk. When turning, it can drift to the side, up to a fall.
To diagnose this pathology, it is necessary to conduct several tests. First of all, you need to ask the patient to walk in a straight line. If he has the first signs of static-locomotor ataxia, then he will not be able to perform this simple procedure. In this case, he will begin to strongly deviate in different directions or spread his legs too wide.
Also, in order to identify the main symptoms of cerebellar damage, additional tests are carried out at this stage. For example, you can ask the patient to stand up abruptly and turn 90° to the side. A person whose cerebellum is affected will not be able to perform this procedure and will fall. With a similar pathology, the patient also cannot move with an added step. In this case, he will dance, and the body will begin to lag behind the limbs a little.
In addition to the obvious problems with gait, there is a strong muscle contraction when performing even the simplest movements. Therefore, in order to determine this pathology, you need to ask the patient to stand up abruptly from a prone position. At the same time, his arms should be crossed on his chest. If a person is he althy, then his muscles will contractsynchronously, he will be able to sit down quickly. When ataxia occurs and the first symptoms of cerebellar damage, it becomes impossible to simultaneously strain the hips, torso and lower back. Without the help of hands, a person will not be able to take a sitting position. Most likely, the patient will simply fall back.
You can also ask the person to try bending back while standing. At the same time, he must tilt his head. If a person is in a normal state, then in this case he will involuntarily bend his knees and straighten up in the hip region. With ataxia, this flexion does not occur. Instead, the person falls.
Dynamic cerebellar ataxia
In this case, we are talking about problems with the smoothness and dimension of human movements. This type of ataxia can be unilateral or bilateral, depending on which hemispheres are affected. If we talk about what symptoms are observed with damage to the cerebellum and the manifestation of dynamic ataxia, then they are similar to those described above. However, if we are talking about unilateral ataxia, then in this case, the person will have problems with movement or performing test tasks only in the right or left side of the body.
To identify the dynamic form of pathology, it is worth paying attention to some features of human behavior. First of all, he will have a strong trembling in the limbs. As a rule, it intensifies by the time the movement is completed, which the patient performs. Being in a calm state, a person looks absolutely normal. However, if you ask him to pick up a pencil from the table, he will initially reach out without any problem, but once he picks up the object, his fingers will begin to tremble violently.
When identifying symptoms of cerebellar damage, diagnosis includes additional tests. With the development of this pathology in patients, the so-called overshooting and passing by are observed. This is due to the fact that human muscles begin to contract disproportionately. The flexors and extensors work much harder. As a result, a person cannot fully perform the simplest actions, such as putting a spoon in his mouth, buttoning his shirt, or tying a knot in his shoelaces.
In addition, handwriting changes are a clear sign of this violation. Most often, patients begin to write large and uneven, and the letters become zigzag.
Also, when determining the symptoms of damage to the cerebellum and pathways, you should pay attention to how a person speaks. With the dynamic form of the disease, a sign appears, which in medical practice is called scanned speech. In this case, the person speaks as if in jerks. It divides phrases into several small fragments. In this case, outwardly sick person looks like he is broadcasting something to a large number of people from the podium.
There are also other phenomena characteristic of this disease. They also concern the coordination of the patient. Therefore, the doctor conducts a series of additional tests. For example, in the "standing" position, the patient should straighten and raise his arm to a horizontal position, take it to the side, close his eyes andtry to touch your nose with your finger. Under normal conditions, it will not be difficult for a person to perform this procedure. If he has ataxia, he will always miss.
You can also try asking the patient to close their eyes and touch the tips of two index fingers to each other. If there are problems in the cerebellum, then the patient will not be able to match the limbs as needed.
Diagnosis
Considering the symptoms of cerebellar damage and research methods, it is worth paying attention to the fact that in case of any disturbances in the functioning of the brain, it is necessary to immediately contact a neurologist. He conducts a series of tests in order to clarify how a person's superficial and deep reflexes work.
If we talk about hardware studies, then it may be necessary to perform electronystagmography and vestibulometry. A complete blood count is required. If a specialist suspects an infection in the CSF, then a lumbar puncture is performed. Markers of stroke or inflammation should be checked. Additionally, an MRI of the brain may be required.
Treatment
The success of therapy directly depends on the causes of this pathology. Therefore, when talking about the symptoms and treatment of cerebellar lesions, it is worth considering the most common cases.
If the disease is accompanied by ischemic stroke, then lysis of blood clots is required. The specialist also prescribes fibrinolytics. To prevent the appearance of new blood clots, antiplatelet agents are prescribed. These include Aspirin and Clopidogrel. Additionally, you may need to take metabolic drugs. These include "Mexidol", "Cytoflavin" and others. These funds help improve metabolic processes in brain tissues.
In addition, in order to prevent a second stroke, it is necessary to take a course of drugs that reduce the amount of cholesterol in the blood.
If, when studying the symptoms and causes of damage to the cerebellum, the doctor determines that the patient suffers from neuroinfections (for example, encephalitis or meningitis), then treatment with antibiotics is required.
Problems caused by intoxication of the body can be solved with the help of detoxification therapy. However, for this it is necessary to clarify the type and characteristics of the poison. In difficult situations, it is necessary to take immediate measures, so the doctor performs forced diuresis. In case of food poisoning, it is enough to perform a gastric lavage and take sorbents.
If a patient is diagnosed with cancer, it all depends on its stage and type of pathology. As a rule, radiation and chemotherapy are prescribed for treatment. In some situations, surgery may be required.
Also, experts prescribe drugs that can improve blood flow (for example, Kaviton), vitamin complexes, anticonvulsants and drugs that strengthen muscle tone.
Physiotherapy exercises and massage sessions have a beneficial effect. Thanks to a special set of exercises, it is possible to restore muscle tone. This helps the patient recover faster. Alsophysiotherapy activities are carried out (therapeutic baths, electrical stimulation, etc.).
Also, considering the symptoms, causes and treatment of cerebellar lesions, it is worth paying attention to several other brain pathologies encountered in medical practice.
Betten's disease
This pathology belongs to the category of hereditary diseases. It doesn't occur very often. At the same time, a person has all the signs of cerebellar ataxia, which are recorded in babies in the first 12 months of life. There are serious problems in coordination, the child cannot focus his eyes, muscle hypotension appears.
Some children begin to hold their heads on their own only by 2-3 years, later they begin to talk and walk. However, in most cases, after a few years, the baby's body adapts to the pathology, and the signs of cerebellar damage cease to be obvious.
Cerebellar degeneration of Holmes
With progressive atrophy of the cerebellum, the dentate nuclei are most damaged. In addition to the standard signs of ataxia, epileptic seizures are observed in patients. However, this pathology usually does not affect the intellectual abilities of a person. There is a theory that this pathology is hereditary, but there is no exact scientific evidence of this fact today.
Alcoholic cerebellar degeneration
Such a pathology appears against the background of chronic alcohol intoxication. In this case, the cerebellar vermis is affected. First of all, when diagnosing a disease in patients, there arelimb coordination problems. Sight and speech are impaired. Patients suffer from severe memory impairment and other brain problems.
Based on this, it becomes obvious that problems with the cerebellum appear against the background of other pathologies. Although neurological problems most often lead to ataxia, this is not the only factor that affects a person's he alth. Therefore, it is important to pay attention to the symptoms in a timely manner, contact a qualified specialist and conduct a diagnosis. Simple tests can be performed at home. However, after that, you need to see a doctor, identify the main cause of the appearance of an unpleasant disease and begin immediate treatment with drugs and physiotherapy.
