Neurological disorders affect the nervous system, which is comprised of the brain, spinal cord and nerves. The nervous system manages the functions of the body. Impairment of a part of the nervous system can lead to movement difficulty, paralysis, muscle weakness, pain, seizures, cognitive difficulties, and changes in perception, as described in "Neurological Disorders: Course and Treatment." Some neurological disorders are rare and others are more common, such as Alzheimer's disease, epilepsy, migraines, and Parkinson's disease.
Alzheimer's Disease
Alzheimer's disease is a progressive disorder in which brain cells are destroyed. As a result, individuals with Alzheimer's disease experience memory loss, thinking and planning difficulties, personality changes, and movement difficulties. Alzheimer's disease gets worse over time and is fatal. Symptoms of Alzheimer's disease typically start after the age of 60 years in most people with the condition. Plaques (protein deposits) and tangles (twisted protein fibers) are found in the brains of people with Alzheimer's disease. Scientists are investigating the role of plaques and tangles in the disease's development and progression. Among the older population, Alzheimer's disease is seen in about 67 per 1,000 adults, according to a study led by Dr. Deborah Hirtz investigating the prevalence of neurological disorders in the January 30, 2007 issue of "Neurology."
Epilepsy
Individuals with epilepsy have recurrent seizures, which are episodes of interrupted brain functioning caused by atypical neural activity in the brain. Seizures can be mild, such as a brief change in awareness or attention, or more striking with uncontrolled shaking of the body. About 7 in 1,000 people have epilepsy in a given year, according to the study by Dr. Hirtz.
Migraine
A migraine is characterized by painful, pulsating headaches and altered perceptions. Other symptoms include nausea, vomiting, and increased sensitivity to light or sound. Typical migraine headaches affect one side of the head and can last for hours or days. About one-third of individuals with migraines experience an aura, or unusual visual or other sensory experience, that typically indicates a developing migraine. About 121 in 1,000 people suffer from migraines, as reported by Dr. Hirtz and her colleagues. Migraines usually affect people between the ages of 15 to 55 years, but about 5 to 10 percent of children have migraine headaches, as well. Genetics and the environment seem to contribute to migraines, although more research is needed to understand what causes the condition.
Parkinson's Disease
Parkinson's disease is a disorder of the nervous system that affects movement. The disorder starts slowly and progresses to become worse over time. The most well known symptom is trembling of the hands, arms, legs or face. Other symptoms include slow body movement, difficulty with balance and body movement coordination, and stiffness of the arms, legs or torso. People with Parkinson's disease may have difficulty doing everyday tasks, such as walking and speaking. Parkinson's disease usually affects people over the age of 50. According to the study by Dr. Hirtz, about 10 in 1,000 people have Parkinson's disease.
References
- "Neurological Disorders: Course and Treatment"; Thomas Brandt, Louis Caplan, Johannes Dichgans, Hans-Christoph Diener, and Christopher Kennard; 2003.
- "Neurology"; How Common are the "Common" Neurological Disorders; Deborah Hirtz, David Thurman, Katrina Gwinn-Hardy, Maha Mohamed, Asish Chaudhuri, and R. Zalutsky; January 30, 2007.
