White matter lesions are among the most common incidental findings—which means the lesions have no clinical significance—on brain scans of people of any age. They may also reflect a mixture of inflammation, swelling, and damage to the myelin.
Some white matter lesions may not cause noticeable symptoms and can be considered almost “normal” with aging. However, some of these lesions can damage important pathways (highways) within your brain and can cause problems with memory, balance and walking.
They now are considered a sign of small blood vessel disease in the brain and may occur when blood flow is reduced due to various medical conditions.
On CT or MRI scans, brain lesions appear as dark or light spots that don't look like normal brain tissue. Usually, a brain lesion is an incidental finding unrelated to the condition or symptom that led to the imaging test in the first place.
White matter hyperintensity (WMH) is common in healthy adults in their 60s and can be seen as early as in their 30s and 40s.
White matter dynamically changes in response to learning, stress, and social experiences. Several lines of evidence have reported white matter dysfunction in psychiatric conditions, including depression, stress- and anxiety-related disorders.
In the general population the prevalence of white matter hyperintensities ranges from 11-21% in adults aged around 64 to 94% at age 82. Pathological findings in regions of white matter hyperintensity include myelin pallor, tissue rarefaction associated with loss of myelin and axons, and mild gliosis.
White matter lesions are among the most common incidental findings—which means the lesions have no clinical significance—on brain scans of people of any age. They may also reflect a mixture of inflammation, swelling, and damage to the myelin.
Some lesions are very small and don't cause symptoms or harm. Unfortunately, there are also times when brain lesions aren't treatable. This is most likely with lesions that cause severe damage. The same is true for incurable conditions like Alzheimer's disease.
Cerebral white matter lesions (WML) in elderly people are thought to result from small-vessel disease and are considered to be a risk factor for dementia.
The presence of white matter hyperintensities has been correlated with a higher risk of stroke, which can lead to vascular dementia. White matter hyperintensities are often referred to as white matter disease. Initially, white matter disease was thought to simply be related to aging.
Causes of White Spots on MRI
Small strokes are the most common cause of white spots on a brain MRI. Small strokes are often caused by blockages of small blood vessels due to high blood pressure or diabetes. Large strokes are usually caused by heart disease or carotid artery disease.
Studies show that having migraines can make you more likely to get brain lesions. These painful headaches are linked to two main types of lesions: White matter lesions. White matter is tissue deep in the brain.
Migraines and the Brain
Multiple studies have found that people with migraines have an increased risk of brain lesions. The two main types of lesions found in migraineurs include: White matter hyperintensities (WMH): These lesions appear bright white on certain sequences of MRI scans.
White spots on the skin often occur when skin proteins or dead cells become trapped under the skin's surface. They may also occur as a result of depigmentation, or color loss. White skin spots are not usually a reason for concern and do not cause major symptoms.
White spots could be due to a viral infection (tonsillitis, mono), a bacterial infection (strep), or a fungal infection (oral thrush) or a noninfectious cause like tonsil stones. How do I get rid of the white stuff on my tonsils? That depends on what's causing them.
They are not common, but they are life threatening. Brain abscesses often occur after an infection, usually in a nearby area, such as an ear, sinus, or dental infection. They can also appear after injury or surgery to the skull.
Psychological stress is linked to multiple sclerosis (MS) severity (e.g., to a heightened risk of brain lesion development). The exact mechanisms underlying this association are unknown.
White matter disease may develop with conditions associated with aging, such as stroke, but it can also affect young people due to conditions such as cerebral adrenoleukodystrophy and multiple sclerosis (MS).
We postulate that white matter lesions may induce dizziness either because patients perceive a degree of objective unsteadiness or by a cortical–subcortical disconnection syndrome, secondary to disruption of white matter tracts involved in gait and balance control [16], [17].
Introduction. White matter hyperintensities (WMH) of presumed vascular origin are a common finding in healthy older adults, with prevalence rates ranging between 39 and 96%1,2,3.
This is your brain on aging
By age 60, this degeneration, termed white matter disease, is present in more than half of the population. Originally, white matter disease was considered a normal, age-related change.
White matter lesions are often found on MR scans of elderly people, they are attributed to degenerative changes of long penetrating arteries. 1-6 Reported prevalence ranges from 5% to 90%, depending on study design, study population, and rating scales.
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.