What does white matter hyperintensities mean?

What does white matter hyperintensities mean?

White matter hyperintensities (WMHs) are lesions in the brain that show up as areas of increased brightness when visualised by T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). WMH’s are also referred to as Leukoaraiosis and are often found in CT or MRI’s of older patients.

What does it mean to have white matter lesions on the brain?

White matter lesions (WMLs) are areas of abnormal myelination in the brain. These lesions are best visualized as hyperintensities on T2 weighted and FLAIR (Fluid-attenuated inversion recovery) sequences of magnetic resonance imaging. They are considered a marker of small vessel disease.

Do white matter hyperintensities mean MS?

White matter hyperintensities (WMH) seen on T2WI are a hallmark of multiple sclerosis (MS) as it indicates inflammation associated with the disease. Automatic detection of the WMH can be valuable in diagnosing and monitoring of treatment effectiveness.

Can white matter hyperintensities cause headaches?

Conclusions. White matter hyperintensities are present in 43.1% of migraine patients. Age, presence of aura, nausea, disability during attack, resistance to treatment, and severity of headache and duration of migraine are considered a risk factor for development of white matter hyperintensities.

Is white matter on brain bad?

The hypothesis suggests that white matter lesions may lead to disrupted structural connectivity within the brain along what are known as neural “tracks.” These disruptions could then lead to functional deficits, in turn contributing to behavioral impairments.

Can white matter hyperintensities go away?

Sometimes, WMHs go away—for example, if an infection is cured or a tumor removed. Sometimes, the white lesions improve, but then worsen. This can occur with an episodic, inflammatory condition like lupus, which can cycle between periods of inflammation and remission.

Can white matter lesions be nothing?

White matter lesions observed on brain MRI are usually characteristic and occur in specific areas including the corpus callosum and pons. “However, in many cases, the white matter lesions as isolated observations are nonspecific” and could be due to MS or another cause, explained Drs Lange and Melisaratos.

What causes hyperintensities on MRI?

White matter hyperintensities can be caused by a variety of factors including ischemia, micro-hemorrhages, gliosis, damage to small blood vessel walls, breaches of the barrier between the cerebrospinal fluid and the brain, or loss and deformation of the myelin sheath.

Is white matter disease dementia?

White matter dementia (WMD) is a syndrome introduced in 1988 to highlight the potential of cerebral white matter disorders to produce cognitive loss of sufficient severity to qualify as dementia.

Are white matter lesions serious?

There is strong evidence that cerebral white matter lesions impair brain function, and in particular impair thinking ability and walking. Debette and Markus (2010) performed a meta-analysis of 22 studies that examined the association of white matter hyperintensities with stroke, cognitive decline, dementia, and death.

What increases white matter in the brain?

Eat well to increase white matter. Omega-3 fatty acids both protect the brain and promote improved cognition and memory, reports Dr. Julius Goepp of Life Extension Foundation . Adults who take in more omega-3 fatty acids have more brain matter and more functional brains, according to a 2007 study published in “Neuroscience.”.

What does increased white matter mean?

The increase in cerebral white matter can occur due to necrosis, with subsequent cystic formation, and may be associated with more diffuse cerebral white matter injury. This may be termed as leukomalacia. The other reasons for the increase in the white matter can be aging, multiple sclerosis, infection, trauma etc.

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 causes white matter damage?

Sometimes, damage to the white matter is caused by genetic variations. Some people don’t produce enough myelin, break the substance down more quickly than they should, or have metabolic problems that lead to white matter disease.