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Brain MRI-small vessel brain disease & understanding findings
Stroke & Cerebrovascular Diseases | Last Active: Aug 23 11:32am | Replies (74)Comment receiving replies
@naturegirl5
My primary care doctor told me that I had plaque in my brain and did not advise me about special foods or anything, she just said that at my age 80 that it just happens. I have considered going to a neurologist.
Replies to "@naturegirl5 My primary care doctor told me that I had plaque in my brain and did..."
@hocbc Did your doctor talk with you about any of the following?
High blood pressure
Your cholesterol and triglycerides
Plaque accumulation in your large arteries in your heart
These are all topics I have discussed with my primary care provider. I am now 74 years old and as our age advances we have more cardiovascular risk for heart attacks and strokes. My LDL (bad) cholesterol has gone up as have my triglercerides. My blood pressure is in the normal range. My primary care provider ordered a heart calcium scan to examine the amount of plaque that might have accumulated in my arteries going to and from my heart.
Mayo Clinic: Coronary Calcium Scan
-- https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/heart-scan/about/pac-20384686
The scan showed slight accumulation of plaque in one coronary (heart) artery. The others were all clear.
Since it is your heart that pumps blood to your brain it is reasonable to look at the arteries of your heart. That was my doctor's thinking.
After these blood tests and coronary calcium CT scan my doctor recommended that I take a statin. The statin will reduce the plaque that accumulates in my blood vessels including my heart and ultimately my brain.
So, I think it's reasonable to assume that any of us will have some plaque when we are in our 80's. I would think that you could work on diet and exercise - you could ask your doctor to refer you to a nutritionist to help you make dietary changes that are healthy for you. You could also talk with your doctor about exercise recommendations. You could also ask for a referral to a neurologist.
What do you think you might do next?
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@hocbc
There is no treatment for microvascular ischemia. My neurologist told me "I can't roto root your brain". Unfortunately, all you can do is try to manage the symptoms the best you can. Symptoms depend on what part of the brain has reduced blood flow.