Atrophy

Synonyms

Degenerative; Wasting

Definition

Atrophy is a loss of cells of any tissue. In the brain, atrophy refers to a loss of neurons that may be generalized (e.g., diffuse atrophy) or focal, reflecting circumscribed regional loss. Focal atrophy may occur as a result of trauma or cerebrovascular lesions, for example. Generalized atrophy may occur with neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease. With atrophy, there is also corresponding loss of neural connections (synapses). Visual features of atrophy include sulcal widening, shrunken gyri, and enlarged ventricles. Atrophy may be viewed on gross inspection of the brain post-mortem or antemortem with structural imaging techniques such as MRI or CT scan. Figure 1 displays diffuse brain atrophy of the cerebral hemispheres viewed from the top.

Atrophy, Fig. 1

Displays diffuse atrophy of the cerebral hemispheres. Note the shrunken gyri and prominent, widened sulci (Photo courtesy of Steven S. Chin, M.D., Ph.D., University of Utah Health Sciences Center)