Understanding The Impact: What Happens If The Cerebellum Is Damaged?

What is the Cerebellum?

The cerebellum is a complex structure located at the base of the brain, directly behind the brain stem. Despite accounting for only about 10% of the brain’s mass, it houses a staggering 50% to 80% of the brain’s total neurons, or brain cells. This “little brain” plays a pivotal role in coordinating and fine-tuning voluntary movements, balance, and equilibrium. Beyond motor coordination, the cerebellum is also involved in various cognitive functions, including language learning, eye movement, and reflexes. Working in conjunction with the brain stem and spinal cord, the cerebellum ensures smooth motor control, maintains muscle tone, and supports proper posture.

The Role Cerebellum Plays in the Human Body

The cerebellum, or “little brain“ in Latin, consists of two parts: the cerebellar cortex and the cerebellar nuclei. It is located near the brain stem which connects to the spinal cord.

The cerebellum is a part of the brain that accounts for only 10% of the brain’s total mass. Despite that, it contains anywhere from 50% to 80% of the brain’s total neurons, about half of the neurons in our body.

The cerebellum deals with maintaining balance, coordination of fine tune movements, and motor skills. In the event of cerebellar damage some symptoms may be observed. Clumsy motor coordination, issues with eye movements, balance problems, slurred speech or ataxic dysarthria, and delayed movement initiation are present. Damage to the cerebellum can impair the ability to perform rapid alternating movements, a condition known as dysdiadochokinesia, which is a significant indicator of cerebellar dysfunction.

If you or your loved one suffered damage to the cerebellum after a car accident, it’s practical to contact a lawyer to help you get fair compensation.

Causes of Cerebellum Damage

Trauma, neurodegenerative disorders, and more can cause cerebellar degeneration.

Traumatic causes

Head injury: This can occur from a fall, sports injury, or car accident. The impact from such incidents can cause brain injury or damage to the cerebellum, which can lead to the manifestation of symptoms of cerebellar degeneration.
Whiplash: This type of neck injury usually occurs in car accidents. The sudden movements can cause damage to the cerebellum due to the jolting of the neck. This is especially likely if the force on the neck and head is intense.
Cerebellar strokes: These conditions occur when blood flow to the brain is interrupted. A stroke in the back of the brain, where the cerebellum is located, can get triggered after a car accident or fall.

Neurodegenerative Disorders

Multiple sclerosis (MS): This is an autoimmune disease targeting the central nervous system. It damages the nerve fibers in the brain and spinal cord. Multiple sclerosis can cause damage to the cerebellum, leading to coordination problems.
Parkinson’s disease: This neurodegenerative disease affects neurons in the brain. Parkinson’s disease can cause damage to the cerebellum, leading to the disease’s distinct tremors.
Huntington’s disease: This is a genetic disease that causes progressive damage to brain cells and nerve cells. Huntington’s disease can cause causes cerebellar atrophy, which leads to progressive motor, cognitive, and psychiatric disturbances.

Other causes of cerebellar dysfunction:

Alcohol abuse
Infections
Tumors
Genetic disorders

What Are The Effects of Cerebellum Damage?

Motor Function Changes

Damage to the cerebellum can affect the brain’s capacity to accurately interact with muscle groups. This may cause clumsiness due to issues with general coordination, specially keeping balance. This is called cerebellar ataxia.

Many of those affected find it hard to coordinate voluntary movements. Since motor control is often affected, performing tasks that require fine movements, such as writing or buttoning clothes are more difficult.

Muscle tone, the amount of tension in a muscle, can also be affected by a cerebellar brain injury. Two potential outcomes regarding changes in muscle tone are reduced or increased muscle tension. Movement, posture, and muscle movement issues may result from these changes in muscle tone.

The seriousness of the cerebellar brain injury determines how severe the manifestation of motion problems will be. While more severe cerebellar injury can result in major impairments in motor skills, minor damage may only cause mild symptoms.

Balance and Posture Problems

Cerebellar damage can have a major effect on posture and balance, making it difficult for a person to carry out everyday tasks. People who have ataxic gait or cerebellar damage may find it difficult to walk straight and may find it difficult to climb stairs. Due to issues with balance, even basic motions like rising from a sitting to a standing position might be challenging.

Cerebellar lesions can cause in-coordination, which makes it difficult to move around smoothly. Dysmetria is another typical indication of cerebellar injury, characterized by loss of movement control and misjudging distance or scale. This could make it difficult to carry out tasks that call for precise motions like writing or buttoning clothes.

Lastly, cerebellar tremor or intention tremor, is a form of tremor that manifests while a person tries to perform a voluntary movement. The tremor gets stronger and harder to control as the movement is more intentional. An intention tremor can be a particular hindrance when doing tasks requiring fine motor control, including drinking or eating.

Other Symptoms

Cerebellar degeneration or cerebellar lesions can also cause the following symptoms:
- Aside from that, even your tongue can be affected, and you may need speech therapy. Difficulty with facial expressions and tongue movements typically follow. These lead to slurred speech or ataxic dysarthria, also common symptoms of cerebellar dysfunction. Those suffering from cerebellar lesions can also have difficulty swallowing because of this.
- Changes in cognitive functions such as motor learning, memory, attention, decision-making, problem-solving, and thinking can happen. Cerebellar dysfunction results in a change in cognitive skills.

Treatment and Cerebellum Brain Injury Recovery

The extent of harm, the root cause, and the overall condition of the patient all influence the course of treatment for cerebellar dysfunction. There isn’t a cure for all illnesses that cause cerebellar disease. However, there are a number of treatments and procedures that can help alleviate symptoms and enhance quality of life.

Physical and Occupational Therapy – This type of treatment aims to improve motor function, balance, and coordination, to enhance one’s everyday living skills.

Speech Therapy and Cognitive Rehabilitation -This treatment deals with communication difficulties like ataxic dysarthria and cognitive impairments like memory and attention.

How a Personal Injury Lawyer Can Help

Dealing with what happens if the cerebellum is damaged is extremely difficult. It can be costly, time-consuming, and emotionally taxing to have a cerebellar injury. In short, you’ll need all of the help you need.

It is crucial to have a personal injury attorney by your side after sustaining a brain injury that caused your cerebellar disorders. Personal injury attorneys can help you get the compensation you need and deserve.

Personal injury lawyers know the rights you have as a car accident victim. Knowing these rights is vital in getting the correct amount of compensation for your troubles. Knowing what you are entitled to in a case can truly help ease your experience after brain damage from an accident.

With The Clark Law Office, you can get help from lawyers with the experience and know-how to get you fairly compensated. For any inquiries about your legal options, contact us today!

Conclusion

In conclusion, the cerebellum is a vital structure that plays a significant role in motor coordination, balance, and cognitive functions. Cerebellar damage or degeneration can result in a range of symptoms, including apraxia, motor function changes, balance problems, eye movement issues, speech changes, and cognitive effects. Fortunately, with the right therapy and treatment, individuals can recover from cerebellar brain injury and regain impaired functions. It is essential to understand the causes, effects, and rehabilitation options for cerebellar damage to provide effective treatment and support for those affected. By engaging the brain’s neuroplasticity through repetitive exercises and therapy, individuals can promote recovery and improve their balance, coordination, and cognitive skills.

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Matthew Clark

Content checked by Matthew Clark, personal injury attorney with The Clark Law Office. Matthew is the owner of The Clark Law Office and represents injury victims all over the State of Michigan. He has collected multiple million dollar verdicts and settlements for victims of auto accidents, dog bites, slip and fall, and medical malpractice. The main office is in Okemos, MI but you can also find us in Lansing and Eaton Rapids.