Unexplained bleed may well be CAA

All too often, a brain bleed dismissed as 'just one of those things' by medical professionals is a symptom of cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA).  Unless the individual or a member of their support network displays more interest than the average apathetic Australian, no attention will be paid to the issue. CAA can be readily identified by an MRI, showing up as a pattern of micro-bleeds across the cerebellum. A reality common symptom is short periods (usually several minutes) of numbness affecting the lips, fingers and occasionally toes, consequently anyone experiencing something comparable should insist their neurologist order an MRI.  Typically patients are told 'there is no treatment' however that isn't strictly correct. CAA is a relatively uncommon variation of amyloidosis and there are specialist clinics in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne (google Amyloidosis Australia) Note that these clinics focus primarily on amyloidosis rather than CAA, although Simon Gibbs (practice at Box Hill) in Melbourne has a number of CAA patients and offers an experimental treatment which has resulted in significant improvement in my partner's matter. To date the PA Amyloidosis Clinic in Brisbane has declined to take an interest in CAA, although neurologists Andrew Wong (RBWH / Cadogan House Nundah and Holy Spirit Chermside) and Clare Muller (RBWH) are treating a few CAA patients. To the best of my knowledge, Simon Gibbs is the most up to date CAA expert in Australia.