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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.
by Catherine E. Myers. Copyright © 2006 Memory Loss and the Brain
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