Diabetes - Induced Brain Disease
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Glossary Cerebrovascular disease - Narrowing of the cerebral arteries sufficiently to prevent adequate blood supply to the cerebellum. The narrowing is usually caused by atherosclerosis, and may progress to the point where the brain tissue is damaged due to lack of blood supply. Stroke - Sudden loss of consciousness followed by paralysis caused by starvation due to arterial blockage and can include hemorrhage into the brain. Transient ischemic attack - Temporary interference with blood supply to the brain. Diffuse cerebral atherosclerosis - Multiple small strokes lead to a systematic decline of mental function. Carotid endarterectomy - A surgical technique for removing obstructions from the lower portion of the carotid artery. Carotid arteries - Arteries that arise from the aorta, and are the principal blood supply to the head and neck. |
Dr. Ponds: Well Dustin, another very devastating complication dealing with diabetes is cerebrovascular disease.
Dustin: What exactly is cerebrovascular disease?
Dr. Ponds: Cerebrovascular disease is more commonly known as brain disease, and is the cause for what eventually leads to a stroke. Cerebrovascular disease is a very serious issue for the diabetic. Diabetes mellitus accelerates the progression of atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries. This disease is considered to be basically non-treatable. Many small and large arteries in the brain can be effected, eventually leading to cerebral starvation.
Partial arterial blockage is called a transient ischemic attack. Basic symptoms include temporary neurological problems, loss of ability to speak clearly, and numbness in the arm. These symptoms last just minutes but do occur again. Complete arterial blockage is a stroke. This is where atherosclerosis has completely blocked a vital artery and that part of the brain is starved of oxygen and vital nutrients, leading to tissue morbidity.
Dustin: Atherosclerosis can cause a lot of problems! Are there any other complications that I should know about?
Dr. Ponds: Well, another complication that can arise is called diffuse cerebral atherosclerosis. This is where a number of small strokes lead to a gradual decline of mental functions. With diffuse cerebral atherosclerosis no actual blockage can be identified.
Dustin: Is there anything that can be done to help people out that have brain disease?
Dr. Ponds: There is one treatment available to those who suffer from cerebral atherosclerosis. Carotid endarterectomy is a surgical technique that can clear plaques from a blocked artery in the neck. Blood clots and plaques are removed along with the inner part of the arterial wall. Plaques blocking the carotid artery in the neck could be leading to a transient ischemic attack. I have a picture that shows the carotid artery:
I also want you to take a look at these charts. They help so that you can visualize this surgical process a little bit better:
A small incision in the neck exposes the problem area. This problem area is then surgically removed and blood flow can return back to normal into the brain.
A specialist would have to do some tests, and hopefully this problem can be taken care of through an endarterectomy. There are other surgical techniques that are available, but they are still in the experimental stage, and are very costly. I hope that I have helped you out on understanding atherosclerotic brain disease.
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