The shipwreck of thoughts
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.22201/ceide.16076079e.2025.26.1.3Keywords:
Stroke, Cerebral edema, ictusAbstract
Adequate brain function requires a constant supply of energy substrates, primarily glucose, which is transported through the blood circulating in the arteries throughout the body. In the brain, these arteries strictly regulate the transport of molecules that reach it and are composed of the cerebral vascular endothelium, which forms the blood-brain barrier. During a stroke, cerebral blood flow is interrupted, reducing the supply of energy substrates and causing alterations in brain function. As a result, the individual may experience impairments in movement, language, or other functions controlled by the affected brain region. Furthermore, if blood flow is not restored, numerous damaging processes are activated. Among these, the increase in brain water content, known as edema, is particularly serious. Its formation can cause a catastrophe like the one experienced by the Titanic passengers who never imagined that the great colossus could be vulnerable and face a shipwreck. In this article, we will describe how a stroke can cause the accumulation of water in this tissue.
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