6. Seizures: An Unexpected Symptom of CAA
Seizures, a less common but significant symptom, can occur in individuals with CAA. These are essentially electrical disturbances in the brain, leading to various behavioral and physical changes. Depending on the region of the brain affected, these changes can range from short periods of blank staring to full-body convulsions.
The relationship between seizures and CAA is complex and multifaceted. The accumulation of amyloid-beta proteins in the brain’s blood vessels can disrupt the normal electrical activity of the neurons they supply. The resulting abnormal electrical discharges can then lead to seizures. While not the most common symptom of CAA, when seizures do occur, they can be quite distressing and require immediate medical attention.
Seizures in CAA can manifest in several ways, depending on the areas of the brain affected. They might present as a brief episode of unresponsiveness, where the person appears to be staring blankly into space. This type of seizure, known as an absence seizure, is typically brief, lasting only a few seconds to a minute. (6)
