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Diffuse Cortical Atrophy


I’m 59 years old, male, Portuguese. A week ago in a routine CAT I found the following result (I did my best to translate into English in an accurate way):

The encephalic appreciation shows diffusely enlarged spaces sulcus-cisternal, without notorious asymmetries, but constituting a pattern of diffuse cortical atrophy, of cerebral predominance although also attaining in the cerebellum vermian sulcus and superior cerebellum hemispheric. There are not relevant focal asymmetries, namely there are not signals of subdural hematome.  

Since I was not suspecting of anything and did the CAT only because I insisted with my doctor to do it because a friend of mine died a year ago with cerebral cancer, now I’m very concerned with this unexpected result.

As soon as possible I will speak with my doctor, but I would appreciate very much if you could tell me what this may mean. Is it an indication of Alzheimer disease?

I work as an engineer. Eight years ago I got the HCV, but I recovered by myself and the virus never came again - anyway could the present atrophy be a consequence? I drink a little, but there are periods that I succeed and don’t dink any alcohol.  I’m a pre-diabetic – I control my diabetes only with exercise.

Many thanks for your help

Amadeu
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535822 tn?1443976780
You are welcome take a look at the Complimentary Medicine Forum for ideas about Natural Supplements, if you put a question up there are many learned people can give you answers to helping yourself. The threads make wonderful reading with so much help and input...
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Avatar universal
I could speak with my doctor two hours and he didn’t offer me a satisfactory explanation about my case.

He said that this condition is due to ageing, but didn’t elaborate much more on this. I insisted with him about being a possible indication of Alzheimer Disease and he said that no other findings are present in the CT on this direction. I suggested some excessive alcohol consumption could be a cause for the cortical atrophy, but he finds this unlike to be a reason.

Finally I told him that it could be wise to take a further scanning within half a year or so, but he recommended two years and asked me not to think too much about this.

As my doctor is a general practioner, I intend to visit a neurologist as soon as possible. In the mean time I took some decisions, just in case: stop drinking alcohol and look for a better quality nutrition, may be with appropriate vitamins, and natural supplements able to help brain irrigation. And I will keep looking for answers and advice in different fora, at least to get guidelines on how to monitor the problem and control any development as far as possible.

Concerning my English “proficiency”, it goes without saying that I work in an international environment in the scope of the European Union activities. But as a telecommunications engineer I have a better English writing for technical rather than for medical matters! Thanks a lot and best wishes!
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535822 tn?1443976780
You are welcome.. incidentely your English writing is excellant...
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Avatar universal
Thank you so much.
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535822 tn?1443976780
I am sorry I am not a Doctor and I think you do need an expert opinion here, unfortunatly there doesnt seem to be an expert/Doctor Alzheimers forum on MH we do need one, I am wondering if you will get some input from, Diagnostic Radiology Forum, maybe others on this forum may have ideas how you may obtain some information, take a look at the forums on MH and put it into others that may seem appropiate, Apologies, good Luck
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