Neurological Conditions And Disorders

Neurological conditions and disorders are a result of a fault in the nervous system. They destroy the nerves or cause them to malfunction. They might come as a result of unusual structural, biochemical or electrical environments around the nervous system. These conditions and disorders result in paralysis, muscle weakness, poor motor coordination, seizures, loss of sensation, abnormal levels of consciousness which is either heightened or disoriented, confusion and pain.

To correctly determine the condition one is suffering from, proper medical examination is required. There is no absolute treatment for these conditions though there are methods to control their effects. These include lifestyle changes, physiotherapy, pain management, exercises, medicines and at times surgery. The WHO report in 2006 estimated that about a billion people in the world suffered from neurological disorders. The biggest challenge in combating with the various conditions is the stigma most patients suffer from and the isolation they face from the society.

Causes of neurological conditions and disorders

There are varied causes of the conditions affecting the nervous system. Some are direct causes while others indirect causes. However, there is still a substantial amount of conditions and disorders whose cause is not known. This usually impedes any meaningful treatment of the patients as knowing the cause is crucial to treatment. Some of the common causes of the conditions include:

  • Genetic disorders
  • Infections from other diseases like syphilis and hepatitis C
  • Lifestyles like alcohol and substance abuse
  • Environmental health including malnutrition
  • Injury to the spinal cord, the brain or the nerves themselves.

The neurological disorders could also arise from diseases or disorders in other body systems and parts like the heart and the body immune system which have effects on the nervous system.

Classification of the neurological disorders

The various defects of the nervous systems are classified according to the main area affected, the type of malfunction or the cause of the disorder. There are two major categories of the disorders according to the location. These are the Central Nervous System (CNS) and the Peripheral Nerve System (PNS). The CNS refers to the nerves network in the brain and the spinal cord while the PNS refers to nerves in the rest of the body. Brain disorders are further classified into their location in the cerebral lobe. They are also classified according to the disorder type and the part of human ability it affects including speech, language, movement, memory and identifying people or things. Several other classifications exist and this grouping helps not only in treatment of the diseases but also for doctors who seek to specialize in a particular area.

Examples of the various conditions

There are numerous nerve disorders and some are yet to be classified. There are those that are common while some are very rare. Common disorders include multiple sclerosis. This affects both the brain and the skeleton. Its cause is not yet known though is said to be from a disorder in the immune system. Others include the Parkinson’s disease, stroke, sleep disorders and epilepsy. There are also some fatal conditions like Alzheimer’s and meningitis.