Neurological Conditions

What are Neurological Disorders?

Neurological disorders are diseases of the central, peripheral and autonomic nervous system. They result from damage to the brain, spinal column or nerves which together control all the workings of the body. When something goes wrong with a part of the nervous system, you can have trouble moving, speaking, swallowing, breathing or learning. You can also have problems with memory, senses or mood.

There are more than 600 neurological diseases. Major types include:

• diseases caused by faulty genes such as Huntington's disease and muscular dystrophy

• problems with the way the nervous system develops such as spina bifida

• degenerative diseases where nerve cells are damaged or die, such as Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease

• diseases of the blood vessels that supply the brain such as stroke

• injuries to the spinal cord and brain

• seizure disorders, such as epilepsy

• cancers of the brain 

• infections such as meningitis

• headaches and migraines

Neurological disorders are diverse and challenging to treat. They are the most common cause of serious disabilities and have a major impact on health and well-being.

Who is affected by a Neurological Disorder?

Neurological conditions affect young and old, rich and poor, men and women and people from all cultures and ethnicities. Some neurological conditions are life-long and people can experience onset at any time in their lives. Others, such as cerebral palsy, are present from birth. Some conditions, such as Duchenne muscular dystrophy, commonly appear in early childhood, some, such as Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease affect mainly older people.

There are also conditions which have a sudden onset due to injury or illness, such as a head injury or stroke, or cancers of the brain and spine. Some neurodegenerative conditions, such as multiple sclerosis and motor neurone disease, affect people mainly in adulthood and will cause deterioration over time, affecting a person’s quality of life and their ability to live independently.

What causes Neurological Disorders?

Neurological disorders can be caused by many different factors, including (but not limited to) inherited genetic abnormalities, problems in the immune system, injury to the brain or nervous system, or diabetes.

Symptoms & Complications

Some neurological conditions are life threatening, most of them severely affect people’s quality of life and many cause life-long disability. Some neurological conditions are progressive (that is, they worsen) and others may remain static for a long period of time.

Neurological symptoms occur when normal processes of the brain and nerves are disrupted. Some symptoms are mild, such as minor headaches or a bout of dizziness. However, symptoms can be more severe, appearing as migraines or repeated fainting. Examples of symptoms include loss of language skills (aphasia), difficulty swallowing (dysphagia) and loss of motor skills (ataxia).

There are some basic symptoms that are common amongst all neurological disorders. These symptoms include a loss of balance and coordination, differences in speech patterns, numbness in a single extremity, difficulty moving, tremors, rigid muscles, and difficulty swallowing. There may also be an inability to do tasks such as swinging the arms, blinking, or performing other acts that are normally involuntary.

Treatments

Treatment options include medicines such as anticonvulsants and tricyclic antidepressants; surgery; physiotherapy, flowtron therapy, massage and rehabilition; hyperbaric oxygen therapy; electromagnetic therapy; vibrotherapy and complementary approaches to relieve symptoms, improve body function, minimise disabilities and retain as much independence as possible.