Guide To The Causes And Risk Factors Of Periventricular Leukomalacia

Periventricular leukomalacia is a type of injury incurred to the brain of infants born prematurely or at a low weight. Periventricular leukomalacia occurs when the delicate brain tissues that sit around the ventricles die due to one or more acute mechanisms. This delicate brain tissue is called white matter, and white matter is the tissue responsible for the production of myelin, a fatty substance that covers and protects the nerve axons, allowing impulses to travel from one nerve to the next in a smooth manner. Individuals affected by periventricular leukomalacia have nerves that cannot conduct electrical signals properly because they are unprotected and uninsulated. This malfunction causes problems with the nervous system and healthy development.