I wanted to know if the brain-stem or cerebellum can effect cognitive functions? For the last few years my cognitive function has been dropping and Iv had a lot of unexplained neurological symptoms, chronic pain etc. It was mostly blamed on anxiety but psychiatric treatments have not helped. You can read my previous posts for more detail.
I finally spent 7 day inpatient in the Neurology ward of a hospital and after a ton of test they think my symptoms are related to a condition called Chiari Malformation. I was evaluated by a Chiari Specialist in Jan, my neurological exam was way abnormal. He showed me my MRI and my cerebellum and brain-stem are being compressed and its restricting CSF flow. Parts of my cerebellum is actually beginning to wrap around the brain-stem. The brain-stem is also kinked and when he showed me the images from a top-down view one side of the brainstem appears smashed in. Decompression surgery is scheduled for April.
Can the brain-stem/cerebellum be responsible for my cognitive problems? I was under the assumption they only controlled balance.
