flow of CSF

cisterns

Cases

normal mri

alzheimer's brain

motor neuron disease

porencephalic cyst

hyrdocephalus

for discussion

more discussion

identifying landmarks

As we get older, our brains atrophy (shrink) to varying degrees largely due to programmed neuronal drop-out.  Brain tissue shrinkage results in an enlargement of the ventricles.

Diseases such as Alzheimer's disease accelerate this process.   Case B, shown in the MRI below, is a case of Alzheimer's disease.  Note that the sulci and gyri and prominent and the ventricles tend to be large, all as a result of reduced brain volume.  In the early stages of the disease, these differences can be subtle.