Mild memory impairment is associated with aging, but there are many other causes for unusual forgetfulness. Medications, toxic substances, lifestyle factors, family history, injuries, and a variety of diseases and conditions can affect the memory....
When a child is mentally challenged, delays in normal development are experienced. The level of impairment can be mild, with the child having an IQ between 52 and 69. In more severe cases, the IQ can be as low as 20 to 35, according to the "Merck...
Damage to the optic nerve, or optic atrophy, is a sign of a serious problem, but is not a disease. Optic nerve damage can potentially cause blindness and other vision problems. The most common cause of optic atrophy is poor blood flow, called...
Viral infections are the most common cause of illness in children. They are highly contagious. Most viruses cause symptoms over a short period of time and produce mild illness. Some viruses can cause significant disease, especially in those who...
Intracranial hypertension occurs when the pressure inside of the skull increases to abnormal levels. The causes of this condition vary, and in some cases there is no clear cause at all. Benign, or idiopathic, intracranial hypertension--sometimes...
Enzymes can assist many functions in the human body, including repairing or healing of tissues, provision of cellular energy, nutrient digestion and support of brain functions. When you exercise, enzyme levels and activity may change in response...
The term "mentally handicapped" is often used interchangeably with "mental retardation," "developmentally disabled" or "mentally challenged." The Genetics Home Reference defines a mental handicap or mental retardation as "subnormal intellectual...
Many different types of infectious diseases affect the human population. Numerous viruses, bacteria and fungi are all capable of causing disease. They can directly invade and cause disease, or an infectious disease can develop as a result of...
Meningitis is inflammation of an area between two of the three membranes--known as the meninges--covering the brain and spinal cord. Possible causes of meningitis include bacteria, fungi and parasites, but when a virus causes the condition doctors...
