BINSWANGER_S DISEASE

BINSWANGER’S DISEASE

Overview and Facts

Binswanger’s Disease, also known as subcorticalis or arteriosclerotic encephalopathy, is a form of vascular dementia caused by damage to the white brain matter caused by hypertension as a person ages. This condition presents as loss of memory, loss of intellectual functioning, and mood swings. It affects the brain’s executive functions and usually happens between 54 and 66 years old. Patients may show their first symptoms as mental deterioration or stroke.

Most people affected by Binswanger’s Disease experience dementia or deterioration of intellectual abilities, memory loss that progresses as the person ages, urgency when urinating, and abnormal walking. Binswanger’s Disease occurs when blood vessels are obstructed, which supplies the deep structures of the brain. The blood supplied by those arteries decreases as the arteries become more narrow, and the brain tissues die, which can be caused by atherosclerosis, blood clots, and other diseases.

Here are some risk factors for Binswanger’s Disease:

  • Hypertension
  • Smoking
  • Hypercholesterolemia
  • Heart disease
  • Diabetes

Even though Binswanger’s Disease is not genetic, these factors may play a role in the development of this sisease.

Types and Symptoms

SYMPTOMS

Signs and symptoms of Binswanger’s Disease generally disturb the movement of a person affected, which is related to the executive cognitive functioning of the brain. These include:

  • Short term memory loss
  • Mood changes
  • Mental deterioration
  • Language disorder
  • Muscle ataxia
  • Impaired movements especially when walking
  • Slow movements
  • Change in posture
  • Epilepsy
  • Fainting
  • Uncontrollable bladder or the need to urinate

Diagnosis & Medications

DIAGNOSIS

You will be diagnosed once you are noticed to have the signs and symptoms of Binswanger’s Disease. Tests are also done to confirm further the diagnosis, such as imaging studies of the brain like CT scan and MRI. A mini-mental state examination or MMSE is created to rapidly assess cognitive impairment and serve as a screening test for diseases like dementia.

 

TREATMENT

When you are diagnosed with Binswanger’s disease, the brain damage associated with it is not reversible. In short, there is no probable cure for this disease. Treatments are done based on the signs and symptoms you may have, but it is still considered progressive as signs and symptoms tend to worsen as a person ages. Medications may be given not only to treat Binswager’s disease but to treat the symptoms to lessen the disease’s progression. This will help you live more with the disease. Behavior and lifestyle changes can be significant factors in slowing the progression of some symptoms, like high blood pressure, diabetes, and atherosclerosis. Lifestyle changes may include eating a healthy diet and keeping good sleeping schedules, regular exercise, and not smoking or consuming. These lifestyle changes may help delay the progressions of Binswanger’s disease.

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