Nervous System Diseases
Nervous system diseases are disorders that damage or disrupt the brain, spinal cord, peripheral nerves, or other nervous system structures.
Central Nervous System: The brain and spinal cord, which process information and coordinate bodily activity. Diseases in this division can disrupt movement, sensation, cognition, or vital functions.
Stroke: A sudden brain injury caused by interrupted blood flow or bleeding in the brain. It illustrates how an acute vascular event can produce lasting neurological disability.
Neurological Examination: A clinical assessment of nervous system function using tests of strength, sensation, reflexes, coordination, and cognition. Its findings help localize dysfunction and narrow possible causes.
Mental Disorder: A clinically significant disturbance in cognition, emotion regulation, or behavior, typically associated with distress or impaired functioning. Mental disorders concern patterns of thought, mood, or behavior, though they can overlap with neurological disease.
Neurological Disability: Limitations in movement, sensation, cognition, communication, or other activities caused by nervous system dysfunction. Disease consequences often persist as disability even after the underlying condition stabilizes.
Peripheral Nervous System: The nerves and ganglia outside the brain and spinal cord that connect them to the body. Disorders here often impair sensation, muscle control, or autonomic functions.
Epilepsy: A neurological disorder marked by an enduring tendency to have unprovoked seizures. Abnormal electrical activity in brain networks causes recurrent seizures.
Neuroimaging: Techniques that produce images of the brain, spinal cord, or related structures. Imaging can reveal lesions, bleeding, tumors, or structural changes.
Musculoskeletal Disorder: A disorder affecting muscles, bones, joints, or connective tissues. Similar movement limitations can arise from structural problems outside the nervous system.
Activities of Daily Living: Basic self-care tasks such as eating, dressing, bathing, and moving around. Neurological impairments can make these everyday tasks difficult or require assistance.