Degenerative Neurological Conditions
Degenerative neurological conditions are some of the most debilitative and distressing issues known to medical science. While the symptoms may differ greatly depending on the specific illness, most sufferers of degenerative neurological conditions experience the following symptoms:
- Impaired motor function
- Frequent changes in mood
- Loss of cognitive abilities
As considerable as the effects of degenerative neurological conditions are, they are made even worse by the fact that they are largely incurable. That being said, there are a number of treatments and therapeutic procedures developed that may reduce some of the symptoms and at least improve the quality of life of patients suffering from degenerative neurological conditions.
Major degenerative neurological conditions
Among the major degenerative neurological conditions recognized nowadays are:
- Alzheimer's disease
- Parkinson's disease
- Multiple sclerosisÂ
These diseases primarily affect the nervous system, and they eventually result in impairment of the functioning of cells and organs. These degenerative neurological conditions, their symptoms and treatment options are discussed in the rest of this article.
Alzheimer's disease
Alzheimer's disease is a brain disease of the progressive type. Also a type of dementia, Alzheimer's is eventually fatal. The disease causes the destruction of brain cells, and the patient's memory, thinking and behavior are often affected.
Like many degenerative neurological conditions, Alzheimer's disease is incurable. However, there are a number of rehabilitation therapies and treatment methods that aim to maximize the independence of the patient as well as his or her safety.
Parkinson's disease
Parkinson's disease is a chronic disease that falls under the cat of degenerative neurological conditions. The disease actually affects as many as one out of every 100 person older than 60, although it can be detected in patients as young 30 years old.
Parkinson's disease is a disorder of the central nervous system. This process eventually leads to the loss of cells in different areas of the brain, most particularly the substantia nigra, which is the area of the brain where dopamine is produced. Dopamine is a chemical in the body that facilitates movement by sending signals to the brain. With the loss of dopamine, Parkinson's disease patients experienced impaired control over their movements.
Among the most common symptoms of Parkinson's disease are:
- Tremors
- slowing of movement
- instable posture
- stiffness
Some patients may also experience:
- impaired memory
- dementia
- frequent mood swings
- inability to sleep
- speech impediments
- unusual pain
- loss of smell
Multiple sclerosis
Multiple Sclerosis or MS is a condition that affects the central nervous system. This system is made up of the brain, spinal cord and optic nerves, all encased in fatty tissue known as myelin. This tissue facilitates the conduction of electrical energy through the nerve fibers. In patients with MS, myelin depletion causes the formation of scar tissue, resulting in damage to the nerve fiber. When this happens, the nerve fibers lose their ability to conduct electrical energy, resulting in the characteristic symptoms of multiple sclerosis. As with many other degenerative neurological conditions, the symptoms of MS can vary from person to person, and even over time.