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Japan boasts one of the highest life expectancies in the world. Stroke was once the leading cause of death in Japan, but as of 2018, it had fallen to fourth place due to the spread of preventive treatment and advances in acute care.
On the other hand, there is still a gap of about 10 years between average life expectancy and healthy life expectancy (the period of time one can live without being restricted in daily life due to health problems). Stroke, in particular, is the number one cause of bedriddenness among people aged 65 and over, and the number two cause of requiring nursing care among people aged 65 and over. Preventing and overcoming stroke remains extremely important in extending healthy life expectancy.
Unlike other organs, brain nerve cells have poor regenerative abilities, and once damaged, they are extremely difficult to repair. Therefore, it is important to prevent neurological diseases such as cerebral infarction and cerebral hemorrhage before they occur, rather than treating them after they have developed.
As our society ages, it is important to detect brain diseases as early as possible and prevent their progression in order to enjoy a healthy and vibrant life.
Our hospital's health management center also conducts brain checkups aimed at early detection of brain diseases.
At Brain Checkup, experienced neurosurgeons or neurologists will explain the results to you. If necessary, we will make an appointment for an outpatient consultation in each department, and we have a thorough system in place for aftercare. We sincerely hope that we can be of help to you in managing your health.
There is a "brain checkup course" that allows for same-day examinations, and an "optional brain examination" that is part of a two-day, one-night comprehensive checkup. The basic examinations include a brain MRI, cervical vascular ultrasound, and cervical spine X-ray. (*We do not perform tests related to dementia at our hospital.)
Among brain diseases, we mainly target the following diseases, which can be expected to prevent the onset and progression of the disease if detected early and appropriate treatment is initiated.
Even if there are no neurological symptoms such as paralysis of the limbs, speech disorders, or dementia, cerebral infarction or cerebral hemorrhage may be discovered by chance through imaging tests such as MRI or CT. It is known that people with such silent cerebral infarction or cerebral hemorrhage have an extremely high risk of developing a stroke later in life compared to those who do not. It is also known that they have an increased risk of dementia in the future. People with silent cerebral infarction or cerebral hemorrhage often have hidden lifestyle-related diseases such as high blood pressure and hyperlipidemia, or arrhythmia, so appropriate preventive treatment is recommended.
MRI scans and cervical vascular ultrasound scans may reveal stenosis or blockage in the large arteries of the head and neck. Asymptomatic vascular stenosis/blockage can lead to a large cerebral infarction in the future, leaving serious after-effects. It is said that those with asymptomatic vascular stenosis/blockage in the head and neck who have risk factors for stroke, such as high blood pressure, hyperlipidemia, diabetes, or smoking, should be carefully managed. In addition, those with severe cervical carotid artery stenosis may be recommended surgical treatment (endarterectomy or catheter-based stent placement) as a preventative treatment for cerebral infarction.
Unruptured cerebral aneurysms are a disease that can cause subarachnoid hemorrhage. Reports suggest that unruptured cerebral aneurysms are found in people over the age of 30 with a cerebral aneurysm diameter of 3% or higher. Subarachnoid hemorrhage begins with a sudden headache and is a highly dangerous disease with a high risk of death or severe disability. It is common among people in their 40s and 50s who are in the prime of their working lives, and once it occurs, it can have a very serious impact. If a cerebral aneurysm is discovered before it ruptures, it may be possible to perform preventative surgical procedures (craniotomy clipping or catheter surgery) before it ruptures, thereby avoiding the risk of subarachnoid hemorrhage. During brain checkups, we use MRA scans to detect unruptured cerebral aneurysms.
These may not be familiar names, but they are both abnormalities of the blood vessels in the brain that can cause cerebral hemorrhage or cerebral infarction. They may be discovered by chance during a brain checkup. If they are discovered, it is recommended that you see a specialist and have them consider the appropriate treatment.
We use blood chemistry tests, urinalysis, and electrocardiograms to identify risk factors for stroke, such as high blood pressure, hyperlipidemia, diabetes, and arrhythmia, and provide lifestyle advice tailored to each patient and, if necessary, suggest treatment by an internal medicine specialist.
In addition to strokes, asymptomatic brain tumors may be found during a brain checkup. There are many types of brain tumors, including gliomas, meningiomas, and pituitary tumors. If a brain tumor is found, the appropriate treatment will vary depending on the type of tumor, so it is recommended that you see a specialist. For more information on brain tumors, please refer to the separate brain tumor section.
