Diseases of the cerebellum: characteristics and symptoms

This area of the brain is the one with the highest concentration of neurons, and it is very important.

Generally, when speaking of the encephalon and/or the cerebrum, we tend to think of the area known as the cerebral cortex, the most visible part from the outside. However, on few occasions we tend to think of a structure located in its lower and posterior part between the brainstem and the occipital lobe, resembling a second brain in smaller dimensions. We are talking about the cerebellum.

This area is fundamental for our survival, so that lesions or alterations in it imply the presence of serious complications at different motor, emotional and cognitive levels. That is why in this article we will make a brief review of the different alterations and diseases of the cerebellum and how they can affect us.

The cerebellum: that little unknown

The cerebellum is a structure shaped like a ball of wool that is located at the back of the brain, specifically behind the brainstem and below the occipital lobe, as I mentioned before.

Despite its size, it is a complex structure, practically resembling a second brain: it possesses its own cortex with two hemispheres united by a structure called vermis, bundles of white matter, nuclei and cerebellar peduncles. It has both excitatory and inhibitory neurons.

Although it is apparently less named than other cortical or subcortical structures, the cerebellum has a great importance in different vital aspects for the human being, participating in different cognitive and language functions, in emotionality, in the feedback received from movement and in fine motor skills. In fact, this structure contains more than half of the neurons in the brain..

The cerebellum has also been shown to be linked to the heartbeat and its frequency. However, it was traditionally considered that it only had functions related to motor skills, and it was not until more recent times that its relevance in other areas has begun to be proven.

We are therefore faced with a structure with a large number of functionsTherefore, damage to the cerebellum can have serious repercussions on a person's life.

General symptoms

Although the type and location of the specific damage will determine to a greater or lesser extent the symptoms that will be manifested, broadly speaking we can say that a disease of the cerebellum or the presence of various lesions in it can cause the following symptoms.

1. Ataxia

Ataxia is the lack or absence of stability, coordination and maintenance of posture and movement. and movement. In the case of damage to the cerebellum, it is one of the most recognizable symptoms. Damage to this region will cause imbalances and uncontrolled and inaccurate movements.

2. Other motor disturbances

The presence of uncontrolled tremors, disorders of the maintenance of the march or muscular dystrophy can be caused by lesion or disease of the cerebellum.

3. Memory disturbances

Memory, especially procedural memory, is linked to the cerebellum and the basal ganglia among other areas. The destruction of part or all of the cerebellum causes serious difficulties in this type of learning. difficulties in this type of learning..

4. Speech disorders

It is frequent that alterations of the cerebellum cause diverse forms of anomalies in the communication and expression of the language. One of the most frequent is dysarthria..

5. Cognitive alterations

Several studies show that the activity of the cerebellum has a certain level of relationship with the level of intelligence manifested. In this sense, an impaired cerebellum could contribute to diminish the intellectual aptitudes of those affected..

6. Perceptual alterations

Different diseases of the cerebellum can cause perceptual disturbances, especially in the areas related to vision and hearing..

7. Involvement in different mental disorders

Alteration or injury to the cerebellum or its functioning can help generate or maintain various types of psychic disorders, such as autism, anxiety, ADHD, schizophrenia or mood disorders (the latter especially linked to the vermis).

Main diseases of the cerebellum

There are different types of alterations and diseases that can affect this structure of the nervous system. Some of the different diseases of the cerebellum that we can find are the following.

Friedreich's Ataxia

This disease is one of the best known types of ataxia due to genetic causes. The most evident symptoms are the presence of rigidity, ocular incoordination, instability and imbalance, dysarthria and different bone problems. Vision and hearing problems, tremors and metabolic disorders such as Diabetes may also appear. It is a neurodegenerative condition..

2. Tumors

The presence of a tumor inside the skull is a serious risk for the sufferer, even if it is a benign cyst, since the pressure exerted against the skull destroys the neurons of the system. In the case of the cerebellum we can find tumors of different types.In the case of the cerebellum we can find tumors of different types, as well as a link between the lesions they can cause in the cerebellum and the presence of cognitive impairment.

3. Von Hippel-Lindau disease

This disease of the cerebellum is caused by a mutation by a mutation of a gene on chromosome three, which is missing or defective.which is missing or defective. Its best known effect is to cause different tumors in different areas of the body, including the cerebellum.

4. Cerebellar syndrome

A disease characterized by the presence of ataxia, hypotonia, changes in gait, motor slowing, tremor during actions and/or nystagmus due to the presence of a variety of disorders of the cerebellum.

5. Joubert's syndrome

This is a genetic disease of the cerebellum in which the vermis connecting the two hemispheres of the cerebellum is deformed. the vermis that connects the two hemispheres of the cerebellum is deformed or simply does not exist, so that the communication between hemispheres cannot be carried out correctly. The patient usually presents symptoms similar to autism. It usually causes developmental delay, intellectual disability, ecopraxia, hypotonia and ataxia, among other symptoms.

6. Cerebellitis

Inflammation of the brain by diverse causes, either viral or bacterial (it can be produced for example by tuberculosis) or produced by the infection of the cerebellum or nearby structures.

7. Dandy-Walker syndrome

This disease of the cerebellum causes part of the cerebellar vermis to be absent or deformed, in addition to having an enlarged fourth internal ventricle and producing cysts inside the skull. It usually causes muscular dystrophy, visual disturbances, spasticity and seizures.

8. Cerebrovascular accidents

The presence of strokes and strokes can cause neuronal death. can cause neuronal death in a large part of the cerebellum. Symptoms depend on the location and degree of involvement of the area in question.

9. Injuries and trauma

Although it is not a disease of the cerebellum, the presence of lesions generated by different traumas can cause serious damage to this region of the brain. It is common for them to cause motor slowing and possible injuries and abilities take longer than usual to recover.

Bibliographic references:

• Baillieux, H.; De smet, H. J.; Dobbeleir, A.; Paquier, P. F.; De De Deyn, P; Mariën, P. (2010). Cognitive and affective disturbances following focal cerebellar damage in adults: A neuropsychological and SPECT study. CORTEX, 46, 869-897.

• Daroff, R.B. & Bradley, W.G. (2012). Bradley’s neurology in clinical practice. 6th ed. Philadelphia: Elsevier/Saunders.

• Joyal, C.C., Meyer, C., Jacquart, G., Mahler, P., Caston, J. y Lalonde, R. (1996). Effects of midline and lateral cerebellar lesions on motor coordination and spatial orientation.Brain Research, 739(1-2), 1-11.