Neurological Diseases

Neurological diseases are a broad category of illnesses that affect the nervous system, which is the collection of cells, tissues, and organs that coordinate body activities and enable us to interact with and respond to our environment. Neurological diseases can affect movement, speech, thinking, sensations, emotions, and memory, and can be as common as the headache or as rare as Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD). The most common neurological diseases include stroke, Parkinson’s disease, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, traumatic brain injury, Alzheimer’s disease, and spinal cord disorders. Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that one in six people in the United States has a neurological disorder. Stroke is the fifth leading cause of death in the US, caused by an interruption of the blood supply to the brain. It is sometimes referred to as a ‘brain attack’ and can lead to disability and death. Symptoms of stroke may include: paralysis, confusion, changes in speech, trouble seeing, and difficulty with balance and coordination. Treatments may include medicines to break up blood clots, lifestyle changes, and in some cases, surgery. Parkinson’s is a progressive neurological disease that is characterized by trembling of the limbs, slow movement, and difficulty in speaking and writing. In Parkinson’s disease, nerve cells in the brain are gradually damaged, leading to an imbalance of neurotransmitters. Common treatments are medications, physical and occupational therapy, and surgical treatments. Epilepsy is a neurological disorder that causes seizures due to abnormal electrical activity in the brain. It is characterized by sudden, recurrent episodes of impaired conscious awareness and/or involuntary muscle jerks or spasms. Treatment of epilepsy is very individualized and is based on the type of seizures and the severity of symptoms.