Jonathan Keleher is one of a handful of people who have lived their entire lives without a cerebellum. Since his birth 33 years ago, Jonathan Keleher has been living without a cerebellum, a structure that usually contains about half the brain's neurons.Mar 16, 2015
What happens if you don’t have a cerebellum?
Problems in the cerebellum can lead to severe mental impairment, movement disorders, epilepsy or a potentially fatal build-up of fluid in the brain. However, in this woman, the missing cerebellum resulted in only mild to moderate motor deficiency, and mild speech problems such as slightly slurred pronunciation.
What happens if cerebellum is destroyed?
If the cerebellum is damaged, it can result in issues like uncoordinated movement, tremors, or muscle spasms. Damage to this part of the brain is most often caused by a head injury or stroke.
What part of the brain can you not live without?
Of course the brain stem which sits at the bottom of the brain and connects to the spine was normal. Since it controls vital functions such as breathing, swallowing, digestion, eye movement and heartbeat, there can be no life without it.
What if a baby is born without cerebellum?
The cerebellum controls smooth movement, and when it does not develop, the rest of the brain must compensate, which it cannot do completely. The condition is not fatal on its own, but people born without a cerebellum experience severe developmental delays, language deficits, and neurological abnormalities.
Can you get your cerebellum removed?
That's one version of a procedure called a hemispherectomy. (The cerebellum is left behind in these cases.) After the surgery, the remaining brain cells can sometimes take over many of the functions that had previously been performed by the removed parts.
Can a person with a severely damaged cerebellum speak?
Cerebellar lesions are most often associated with the clinical findings of ataxia, which may affect the limbs, trunk, or even speech (producing a specific type of dysarthria known as scanning speech), dysequilibrium as manifested by a wide-based gait, and muscular hypotonia.
Can cerebellum repair itself?
Fortunately, recovery is possible. The key to healing any brain injury, including cerebellar injuries, is to engage your brain's neuroplasticity. Completing therapy exercises daily can promote improvements in your balance, coordination, and cognitive skills.
Can a baby survive without a cerebellum?
The cerebellum controls smooth movement, and when it does not develop, the rest of the brain must compensate, which it cannot do completely. The condition is not fatal on its own, but people born without a cerebellum experience severe developmental delays, language deficits, and neurological abnormalities.
Can cerebellum regenerate?
Nerves in the central nervous system of adult mammals do not usually regenerate when injured. The granule cell, a nerve cell located in the cerebellum, is different. When its fibres, called parallel fibres, are cut, rapid regeneration ensues and junctions with other neurons called "synapses" are rebuilt.