The understanding of many neurodevelopmental disorders has improved dramatically because of high-resolution neuroimaging, which can detect structural defects that previously went unrecognized, genetic testing, and a better grasp of molecular mechanisms. As a result, targeted treatments are now available for…
Vitamins and minerals, which are essential to cellular function, must be obtained from the environment because the body cannot produce them. They are necessary for embryonic and early development as well as the subsequent maintenance of metabolic function of both…
Definition Encephalitis is a diffuse or focal inflammation of the parenchyma of the brain. The term encephalitis indicates that the predominant clinical syndrome arises from infection and inflammation in the parenchyma of the brain rather than in the leptomeninges. When…
A brain abscess affects the brain’s parenchyma directly, whereas parameningeal infections produce suppuration in potential spaces covering the brain and spinal cord (epidural abscess and subdural empyema) or produce occlusion of the contiguous venous sinuses and cerebral veins (cerebral venous…
Bacterial Meningitis Definition Meningitis is an inflammation of the arachnoid membrane, the pia mater, and the intervening cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). The inflammatory process extends throughout the subarachnoid space around the brain and spinal cord and involves the ventricles. Pyogenic meningitis…
The disorders of myelin encompass a wide range of diseases in which myelin is not produced (hypomyelination), myelin is not formed in a normal fashion (dysmyelinating disease), or normally formed myelin is destroyed or not maintained appropriately (demyelinating disease and…
Definition Movement disorders are first divided into hypokinetic and hyperkinetic categories. Hypokinetic disorders , which are characterized by akinesia, bradykinesia, and rigidity, are parkinsonian syndromes and are discussed in Chapter 378 . The common hyperkinetic movement disorders ( Table 379-1…
Parkinsonism is a clinical syndrome that consists of four cardinal signs: tremor, rigidity, akinesia, and postural disturbances. Parkinson disease is a common cause of the syndrome, but there are numerous other causes ( Table 378-1 ). TABLE 378-1 DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS…
In the United States, about 13% of strokes are caused by intracranial hemorrhage, but the worldwide percentage is about 20% because of countries where hypertension is common but atherosclerosis is less common. Intracerebral hemorrhage, which accounts for about 75% of…
Definition Ischemic cerebrovascular disease is caused by a reduction of blood supply to the brain. The injury may be focal (related to occlusion of a single artery), multifocal (related to occlusion of several arteries), or global. Although certain clinical features…