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| Atrophy
is a medical term that refers to a decrease in size of an organ
or part of the body. Atrophy may result from disuse; for example,
long-term immobility of a leg due to paralysis may lead to atrophy
of the leg muscles. Atrophy may also result from cell death,
loss of blood supply, malnutrition, or hormonal changes. For
example, Alzheimer's
disease causes progressive atrophy to the brain as brain
cells (neurons)
die during the course of the disease. |
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