An MRI scan shows a Chiari type-1 malformation, in which the cerebellum extends beyond the gap in the skull where it connects to the spinal cord. Res

Researchers define new subtypes of common brain disorder

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2024-11-22 21:30:05

An MRI scan shows a Chiari type-1 malformation, in which the cerebellum extends beyond the gap in the skull where it connects to the spinal cord. Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have used AI tools to describe three sub-types of Chiari type-1, which will help guide clinicians to make the most effective treatment decisions for their patients.

Roughly 4% of the population is affected by a congenital brain malformation that has eluded researchers’ efforts to find causes and treatments. For the condition, Chiari type-1 malformation, the diagnosis is straightforward: the lower part of the brain, known as the cerebellum, protrudes at least five millimeters through the gap in the skull that connects to the spinal cord.

There’s no one known cause for Chiari type-1, and the symptoms it can cause are unpredictable. The most common problems include chronic headaches, difficulty swallowing and decreased muscle strength, as well as syringomyelia, a condition that occurs when a cyst forms in the spinal cord. Sometimes these symptoms occur in combination, or singly. In most cases, people can live their whole lives with no ill effects. The breadth of Chiari type-1 presentations has made it difficult for physicians to develop a consistent treatment protocol for their patients.