Can MRI detect white matter?

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is very sensitive for the detection of white matter lesions (WML), which occur even in normal ageing.

What causes white matter lesions on MRI?

White spots on a brain MRI are not always a reason for concern. There are many possible causes, including vitamin deficiencies, infections, migraines, and strokes. Other risk factors for white spots include age, genetics, obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and high cholesterol.

How serious is white matter disease?

Progressive means that it gets worse over time. The life expectancy after a diagnosis of white matter disease depends on the speed it progresses and the severity of any other conditions it may cause, like stroke and dementia. White matter disease is believed to be a factor in both strokes and dementia.

Is white matter disease the same as MS?

“In general, white matter disease causes acute MS symptoms, like numbness and weakness,” Stone says. “Gray matter disease causes progressive symptoms, like fatigue and memory loss. These higher brain functions are called cognitive functions. Most MS disability actually comes from cognitive dysfunction.”

Does white matter on brain mean MS?

Experts have long known that MS affects white matter in the brain, but recent research suggests that it affects gray matter, too. Early and consistent treatment may help limit the effects of MS on the brain and other areas of the body. In turn, this may reduce or prevent symptoms.

Does white matter disease cause memory loss?

Brain scientists have found that white matter disease chips away at memory by shrinking the brain, and contributing to dementia more than initially thought.

Is white matter disease painful?

Background: The association between pain and dementia is complicated and may depend on underlying brain pathology. It was hypothesized that both medial temporal atrophy (MTA) and global cortical atrophy (GCA) predicted no/mild pain, while white matter hyperintensities (WMH) predicted moderate/severe pain.

Is white matter disease hereditary?

White matter disease in midlife is heritable, related to hypertension, and shares some genetic influence with systolic blood pressure.

What causes white matter in the brain?

There are several causes of white spots on a brain MRI , including small strokes, migraines, multiple sclerosis (MS), lupus, B12 deficiency, a brain tumor such as lymphoma, or an infection such as Lyme disease or HIV. They are usually found in the brain’s white matter, typically near the ventricles, but they can be located anywhere in the brain.

What are the effects of white matter disease?

Finally, white matter brain disease can interfere with cognitive functions. Examples of cognitive problems as a result of white matter brain disease are short-term and long-term memory problems, slow word recall, speech impairment, depression, mood swings, anxiety and other mood disorders.

What does hyperintensity mean on a MRI report?

Hyperintensity is a term used in MRI reports to describe how part of an image looks on MRI scan. Most MRIs are in black/white with shades of gray. A hyperintensity is an area that appears lighter in color than the surrounding tissues; a hypointensity would be darker in color.

What is excessive white matter in the brain?

White matter disease is a disease that affects the nerves that link various parts of the brain to each other and to the spinal cord. These nerves are also called white matter. White matter disease causes these areas to decline in their functionality. This disease is also referred to as leukoaraiosis.