Leukoencephalopathy

Leukoencephalopathy (leukodystrophy-like diseases) is a term that describes all of the brain white matter diseases, whether their molecular cause is known or unknown.

[1] It can refer specifically to any of these diseases: The classification of leukoencephalopathies is a matter of debate.

The hereditary demyelinating disorders are then classified according to the localization of the underlying metabolic defect, and they include the leukodystrophies when myelin growth is the underlying problem.

The acquired demyelinating diseases are classified according to their underlying causes into five groups: noninfectious–inflammatory, infectious–inflammatory, toxic–metabolic, hypoxic–ischemic (vascular problems like Binswanger's disease), and traumatic.

For example CADASIL syndrome is at the same time hereditary and hypoxic.

A black and white CT image of a cross-section of the skull and brain
A CT of leukoencephalopathy