The nervous system contains both the central nervous system--the spinal cord and brain--and the peripheral nervous system, which contains nerve endings that connect the central nervous system to the tissues of the body. Nerves signal to each other through bioelectrochemical signals, transmitting nerve impulses to allow cognitive thought, locomotion and a range of other functions. Degenerative nerve diseases can affect the peripheral or central nervous systems, interrupting normal nerve communication. Over time, this disruption in nerve signaling and progressive nerve damage can lead to a number of symptoms.
Pain
One possible symptom of degenerative nerve diseases, especially diseases causing peripheral neuropathy, is pain. As the disease progresses, damage to nerves around the body can lead to abnormal nerve signaling to the brain. When pain-sensing nerves become damaged, they may send pain signals to the brain with little or no stimulation, leading to persistent pain with no obvious cause. The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke indicates that peripheral neuropathy generally causes a burning pain that may become more severe at night. The pain most often occurs symmetrically on both sides of the body, but can occasionally occur asymmetrically. Patients with pain from degenerative nerve disease may manage their symptoms with over-the-counter or prescription analgesics.
Muscle Weakness
In some cases, degenerative nerve diseases can lead to muscle weakness. Each muscle in the body connects to a series of nerve endings, which transmit information from the brain to induce muscle movement and allow for locomotion. Nerve degeneration of either the peripheral or central nervous system can produce muscle weakness by interfering with communication between the brain, the nerves throughout the body and the muscles they signal to. The University of Chicago indicates that muscle weakness from nerve damage, such as neuropathy experienced by patients with diabetes, may feel most pronounced in the extremities such as the feet. The treatments for muscle weakness as a result of neuropathy may vary depending on the underlying disease causing nerve damage.
Brain Damage and Dementia
In some cases, degenerative nerve disease affects the brain, leading to nerve cell death in specific regions or throughout the brain. Cells within the brain communicate through complicated networks, and degenerative nerve loss in the brain, such as occurs with Alzheimer's disease, can lead to progressive dementia. Patients with degenerative nerve damage in the brain may feel disoriented, experience changes in personality and loss of cognitive functioning, and suffer memory loss. Over time, patients with dementia due to degenerative nerve diseases may require full-time care. Although medication may help slow the progression of nerve degeneration in the brain, often these diseases eventually prove fatal.
