Brain injuries, changes in brain tissue, can be associated with a number of different causes, including physical trauma, congenital brain malformations, infections, and progressive neurological disease. Abnormal tissue in the brain is of medical concern and can be identified on imaging studies of the brain, such as MRI. Patients with suspected brain injuries are evaluated by neurologists, physicians who specialize in caring for the brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nervous system. Options for managing an injury may include medications and surgery.
One cause of brain injuries is a congenital problem with the brain, such as an inherited abnormality in the brain or a problem that developed during fetal development. Malformations within the brain can take a variety of forms, such as Chiari malformations in the cerebellum and arteriovenous malformations in the blood supply to the brain. These injuries may be diagnosed shortly after birth when a baby appears to have neurological deficits, or they may be discovered years later.
Tumors are another cause of brain injuries. Brain tumors arise from tissue throughout the brain and can be associated with exposure to pollutants, random mutations, and other causes. As tumors grow and spread, they can put pressure on healthy brain cells and potentially cause cell death. Hydrocephalus, where fluid builds up inside the skull, can also cause brain injuries by killing healthy brain cells with pressure.
People with traumatic head injuries, as well as people who have had brain surgery, can have injuries caused by physical trauma to the brain. Penetrating head injuries, surgical or otherwise, also have the risk of introducing bacteria and viruses. Infections can cause lesions, including abscesses, where pus and other fluids collect in a sac inside the brain. Diseases such as multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's disease, and Parkinson's disease also cause brain damage by damaging cells in the brain.
Brain injuries can cause a variety of symptoms, depending on the site of the injury. People may start experiencing cognitive deficits like slurred speech, memory loss, difficulty reasoning, etc. They can also develop tremors, unsteady gait, and other physical problems caused by poor coordination and signaling between the brain and the peripheral nervous system. An assessment can be done to determine the extent of a patient's deficits, and diagnostic tools such as brain scans will provide further information.
Medications can sometimes treat brain injuries by addressing the cause or stopping the progress. Surgery to remove a lesion may be another treatment option. In some cases, there may be no treatment option beyond supportive care to keep the patient comfortable.