Concept and Etiology: Brain Herniation
Brain herniation occurs when there is something inside the skull that produces pressure that moves
brain tissue. Often associated with brain swelling or bleeding from injuries, stroke, or a tumor. As
brain herniation is due in part to pressure being introduced, it can occur in any "direction" as it
were. From side to side, up or down, it can put pressure on the pituitary gland as a result. Brain
herniation can put pressure on parts of the brain that control consciousness, thus, resulting in a
stupor or coma. This deviates from normal brain functions and is life-threatening.
Brain herniation can be classified as intracranial or extracranial. Intracranial hernias can be trans
tentorial or tonsillar. Trans tentorial herniation involves "the upper part of the brain (cerebrum)
being forced through the tentorial notch, which divides the cerebrum from the lower parts of the
brain (cerebellum and brain stem). In people with this type of herniation, consciousness is reduced.
The side of the body opposite the tumor may be paralyzed. The pupil of the eye on the side of the
herniation may widen (dilate) and may not narrow (constrict) in response to bright light." Tonsillar
herniation involves "a mass (tumor or bleeding) in the lower part of the brain that pushes the
lowest part of the cerebellum (cerebellar tonsils) through the opening at the base of the skull
(foramen magnum). As a result, the brain stem, which controls breathing, heart rate, and blood
pressure, is compressed and malfunctions."
Signs and symptoms include high blood pressure, irregular or slow pulse, severe headache,
weakness, cardiac arrest, loss of consciousness/coma, loss of all brainstem reflexes (blinking,
gagging, and pupils reacting to light).
Testing can be done to determine if a brain hernia is present such as an x-ray of the skull and neck,
CT scan of the head, MRI of the head, and if a bleeding disorder is suspected blood tests can be
done. Brain herniation is a severe life-threatening brain injury, usually caused by other serious
disorders such as a brain tumor. Treatment is necessary and depending on timing can save
someone's life.
Concept and Etiology
Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive disorder that destroys memory by causing the brain to shrink
and brain cells to perish. The medical condition Alzheimer’s affect the endocrine and neural system
that work together to influence diverse human behavioural aspects such as metabolism, growth,
and reproduction (Walinga & Stangor, 2014). The change in the neuroendocrine mechanisms in the
body is one of the major indicators of the health problem. The normal day to day functions that are
performed by the endocrine and neural systems get diminished due to the formation of plaques
around the brain cells that affect the communication between the systems (NHS, 2021).
Classification
The common yet complex multifactorial neurodegenerative disease is a common kind of dementia
that can be classified based on severity. According to Gupta, Alzheimer’s disease (AD), including its
mild cognitive impairment stage, might or might not progress into AD (Gupta et al., 2019). It can be
classified as early-onset or late-onset. The signs and symptoms relating to early-onset appear when
an individual is between the age of thirties and mid-sixties, whereas the signs and symptoms of late-
onset arise during or after mix-sixties (U.S. National Library of Medicine, 2021).
Clinical Manifestations
The common signs and symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease are the loss of memory that can disrupt
day to day life, complexities in solving problems or planning things, difficulty in completing familiar
activities, and trouble comprehending spatial relationships and visual images (10 early signs and
symptoms of Alzheimer’s. Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia, 2021). When individuals are affected
by the mental health condition, they also find it difficult to take part in conversations or follow
conversations. Due to the diminished ability of the brain to function, the affected individuals are
unable to actively participate in work or social lives. There are signs of mental decline, difficulty in
understanding and thinking, disorientation and delusion and lack of ability to create memories.
Diagnostic Tests
Some of the diagnostic tests that can be done to illuminate the diagnosis of the medical condition
are evaluation of medical history, physical and neurological examination, brain mapping. Similarly,
mental status tests can also be carried out to identify the deterioration in the memory of individuals
(Diagnosis. Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia, 2021). According to Alzheimer’s Association, there is
no single test that can help to determine the neurodegenerative disease. In addition to evaluating
the medical history, neurological examinations and mental cognitive status tests can also help to
evaluate the issues that an individual might be experiencing in the brain (Diagnosis. Alzheimer's
Disease and Dementia, 2021). Several tests can be used for identifying the signs and symptoms of
Alzheimer’s disease.
References
10 early signs and symptoms of Alzheimer’s. Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia. (2021). Retrieved
November 16, 2021, from https://www.alz.org/alzheimers-dementia/10_signs\.
Diagnosis. Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia. (2021). Retrieved November 16, 2021, from
https://www.alz.org/alzheimers-dementia/diagnosis.
Gupta, Y., Lama, R. K., Kwon, G. R., Weiner, M. W., Aisen, P., Weiner, M., ... & Hardy, P. (2019).
Prediction and classification of Alzheimer’s disease based on combined features from
apolipoprotein-E genotype, cerebrospinal fluid, MR, and FDG-PET imaging biomarkers. Frontiers in
computational neuroscience, 13, 72.
NHS. (2021). Causes -Alzheimer's disease. NHS choices. Retrieved November 16, 2021, from
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/alzheimers-disease/causes/.
U.S. National Library of Medicine. (2021, April 7). Alzheimer disease: MedlinePlus genetics.
MedlinePlus. Retrieved November 16, 2021, from
https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/condition/alzheimer-disease/.
Walinga, J., & Stangor, C. (2014, October 17). 4.4 putting it all together: The nervous system and the
endocrine system. Introduction to Psychology 1st Canadian Edition. Retrieved November 16, 2021,
from https://opentextbc.ca/introductiontopsychology/chapter/3-4-putting-it-all-together-the-
nervous-system-and-the-endocrine-system/.
U.S. National Library of Medicine. (2020, August 2). Brain Herniation: MedlinePlus medical
encyclopaedia. MedlinePlus. Retrieved from Brain herniation: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopaedia
Maiese, K. (2021, November 17). Brain herniation - brain, spinal cord, and nerve disorders. Merck
Manuals Consumer Version. Retrieved from Brain Herniation - Brain, Spinal Cord, and Nerve
Disorders - Merck Manuals Consumer Version
