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Overview of Brain Dysfunction

By

Juebin Huang

, MD, PhD, Department of Neurology, University of Mississippi Medical Center

Reviewed/Revised Aug 2023
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Brain damage can cause many types of dysfunction. Such dysfunction ranges from complete loss of consciousness (as occurs in a coma Stupor and Coma Stupor is unresponsiveness from which a person can be aroused only by vigorous, physical stimulation. Coma is unresponsiveness from which a person cannot be aroused and in which the person's... read more ), to disorientation and an inability to pay attention (as occurs in delirium Delirium Delirium is a sudden, fluctuating, and usually reversible disturbance of mental function. It is characterized by an inability to pay attention, disorientation, an inability to think clearly... read more ), to impairment of one or several of the many specific functions that contribute to conscious experience.

The type and severity of brain dysfunction depend on

  • How extensive brain damage is

  • Where the brain damage is

  • How quickly the disorder causing it is progressing

Brain dysfunction may be

  • Localized (focal): Limited to a specific area

  • Diffuse (global): Widespread

Causes of Brain Dysfunction

Localized brain dysfunction is caused by disorders that occur in a specific area of the brain, including the following:

Diffuse brain dysfunction is caused by disorders that affect large areas of the brain, including the following:

Diffuse brain dysfunction may also result from disorders that occur in a specific area of the brain if they cause swelling of or put pressure on a large area of the brain. These disorders include the following:

  • Brain abscesses

  • Large brain tumors

  • Severe or blunt head injuries

COVID-19 COVID-19 COVID-19 is an acute respiratory illness that can be severe and is caused by the coronavirus named SARS-CoV-2. Symptoms of COVID-19 vary significantly. Two types of tests can be used to diagnose... read more is mainly a respiratory illness, but it can also affect many organs in the body, including the brain. The virus that causes COVID-19 can cause widespread brain dysfunction, resulting in nervous system (neurologic) and mental health problems. Some of these problems may linger after recovery from the acute illness.

Certain drugs, such as opioids (narcotics), some sedatives (such as benzodiazepines and barbiturates), and antidepressants, cause diffuse brain dysfunction if people are sensitive to their effects (as older people are) or if the level of drug in the blood is too high.

When Specific Areas of the Brain Are Damaged

Different areas of the brain control specific functions. Consequently, where the brain is damaged determines which function is lost.

When Specific Areas of the Brain Are Damaged

Symptoms of Brain Dysfunction

The type and severity of brain dysfunction depend on the location of the brain damage, as well as whether it affects the whole brain (diffuse) or only part (localized) of the brain. When the cerebral cortex (the outer layer of the cerebrum, the largest part of the brain) is damaged, the degree of dysfunction is often proportionate to the extent of the damage: The more extensive the damage, the more severe the dysfunction is likely to be. However, damage to some areas of the brain can cause severe dysfunction even when the damaged area is small. When the brain stem (which regulates critical body functions and levels of consciousness) is damaged, a relatively small amount of damage may cause coma and even death.

Disorders that progress rapidly are more likely to cause more noticeable symptoms of brain dysfunction than disorders that progress slowly. For example, a severe stroke is more likely to cause noticeable symptoms than a slow-growing tumor. The brain compensates for gradual changes more easily than for rapid changes.

Also, diffuse brain damage that occurs suddenly tends to affect consciousness, making people drowsy, difficult to arouse (causing stupor), or impossible to arouse (causing coma). However, diffuse brain damage can progress more slowly and affect consciousness less often. So people usually remain conscious and awake. Localized damage tends to affect specific functions.

Prognosis for Brain Dysfunction

Two characteristics of the brain help it compensate and recover after it has been damaged:

  • Redundancy: More than one area can perform the same function. Areas with somewhat overlapping functions can sometimes compensate for lost functions.

  • Plasticity: Nerve cells in certain areas can change so that they can perform new functions.

Did You Know...

  • Sometimes other areas of the brain can take over the functions of a damaged area.

Consequently, undamaged areas of the brain sometimes take over functions performed by a damaged area, contributing to recovery. However, as people age, the brain becomes less able to shift functions from one area to another. Some functions, such as vision, cannot be performed by other areas of the brain. Direct damage to areas that control such functions may have permanent effects.

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