Cortical atrophy: symptoms, causes and associated disorders

This affectation of the cerebral cortex can have very serious effects on health.

There are a large number of conditions and pathologies that can cause the degeneration and death of the neurons that make up the various brain structures. When this degeneration affects the cerebral cortex, it is known as cortical atrophy. it is known as cortical atrophy.

Throughout this article we will review the main characteristics of cortical atrophy. In the same way we will review the causes and diseases that provoke it, its symptoms and which brain structures are involved.

What is cortical atrophy?

The cortical atrophy refers to the process of degeneration or gradual degradation of the cerebral cortex whose origin is found in the reduction or decrease of the neuronal population. that conforms it.

The concept atrophy has its origin in Latin and its translation refers to a lack of nutrition. Similarly, the etymological basis of the word cortical also comes from Latin and is used to refer to everything related to the cerebral cortex.

If we take into account the origins of both concepts, it is easier to deduce that cortical atrophy consists of the gradual destruction of neuronal cells. the gradual destruction of the neuronal cells that make up the higher areas of the brain, specifically those structures that are found in the cerebral cortex.specifically those structures found in the cerebral cortex, largely due to a decrease or loss of oxygen and nutrient delivery to these areas.

What are the causes?

Due to the large number of conditions that can cause degeneration of the upper brain structures, cortical atrophy is one of the most researched types of conditions. Among these causes are a wide variety of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease, which have as their main effect the destruction of neurons and, consequently, the loss of brain mass.such as Alzheimer's disease, which have as their main effect the destruction of neurons and, as a consequence, the loss of brain mass.

However, there are other causes or risk factors that may favor the development of cortical atrophy. These include the consumption of alcohol in large doses, the toxicity of which causes neuronal death, as well as some infections such as HIV or lack of Blood supply due to stroke or ischemic stroke. due to cerebrovascular or ischemic accidents.

What are the symptoms?

Cortical atrophy, like the diseases that cause it, is characterized by causing a large number of cognitive symptoms in the person who suffers from it. These changes and alterations in cognitive functions are due to the fact that they are managed by these specialized brain areas.

Cognitive functions refer to all those brain activities and processes that make it possible for people to receive, select, collect, store, transform, process and rescue all the information that reaches us from the surrounding environment. Thanks to them, we are able to understand our environment and interact with it.

Taking into account that neuronal degeneration involves a series of alterations in these functions, the main symptoms of this include:

• Problems in memory processes.
• Alteration of language..
• Loss of orientation capacity.
• Alterations in attention and concentration processes.
• Problems in executive functions..
• When neurodegeneration affects the frontal lobe, it can cause behavioral and personality disorders.

However, this symptomatology may vary according to the neurodegenerative disease that causes it; both the intensity and the number of symptoms of each clinical picture may vary.

Which brain regions are affected?

As mentioned throughout this article, cortical atrophy consists of the degeneration of neurons in the cerebral cortex. It will therefore exert its effects on all the structures found therein.

These structures are divided into the different large areas that make up the cerebral lobes.. They are the following.

1. Frontal lobe

Located in the anterior area of the brain, the frontal lobe is the most recent of the cerebral lobes at the phylogenetic level. This means that it is only found in vertebrate species and especially more developed in complex species such as hominids.

Among its main functions are those of developing and controlling behavior, as well as linguistic production and abstract thought.. Therefore, all those neurodegenerative diseases that affect this area can seriously compromise the proper functioning of these brain tasks.

2. Parietal lobe

The parietal lobes are located in the upper area of the skull. Neuronal atrophy of this region causes serious alterations in the ability to alterations in the ability to integrate sensory information, to understand it and to give itand to understand it and give it meaning.

3. Occipital lobe

This third lobe is located in the posterior area of the brain. In addition, it is mainly responsible for receiving and transmitting the visual information coming from the rest of the visual structures.

4. Temporal lobe

Finally, the temporal lobe is located in the lower part of the brain. Any type of lesion or atrophy in this region usually causes the most characteristic symptoms of neurodegenerative diseases, as they are all those related to memory and thinking processes..

With what diseases is it related?

Although there are many other causes, such as alcoholism or ischemic accidents, which can lead to the degeneration and destruction of neurons in the cerebral cortex, the main causes of this atrophy are neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, Pick's disease or dementia due to Lewy bodies.

1. Alzheimer's disease

Senile dementia of the Alzheimer's type is a condition of a neurodegenerative nature in which the person experiences an alteration of memory processes. person experiences an alteration of memory processes, as well as other mentaland other mental abilities, manifested by cognitive and behavioral symptoms.

2. Pick's disease

Pick's disease is a rare dementia similar to Alzheimer's disease caused by an accumulation of Pick's bodies in brain neurons. The main symptoms are related to behavioral disturbances such as compulsive and repetitive behaviors, or emotional disturbances such as sudden mood swings and a loss of emotional expression..

3. Lewy body dementia

This last type of neurodegenerative disease shares a large number of symptoms with other conditions such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease. However, despite presenting motor, behavioral and memory symptoms characteristic of these dementias, in Lewy body dementia the patient experiences a fluctuation in the intensity of symptoms accompanied by highly realistic visual hallucinations..

Differences with posterior cortical atrophy.

Unlike the cortical atrophy referred to throughout the article, posterior cortical atrophy has a much earlier age of onset, with the first symptoms appearing between the ages ofand the first symptoms may appear between 50 and 60 years of age.

In addition, this neurodegenerative condition is distinguished by presenting especially visual symptoms. These symptoms include an impaired ability to understand the person's surroundings, as well as problems in perceiving specific and precise objects in the patient's field of vision. For example, the person is completely unable to see or find the keys in front of him.

With the development of posterior cortical atrophy, the person begins to experience the behavioral and cognitive symptoms of the other atrophies, but with the added disadvantage that they are experienced at a much younger age.