Neurological disorders

The brain, the spinal cord, and the nerves are parts of the human body. Together they make up the human nervous system. The nervous system carries signals from the brain to different parts of the body and the other way around. In this way, it controls the movements of the body, the senses, the actions and the thoughts. Most of the time, the nervous system functions like it should.

We don’t even need to think about it. But sometimes parts of the nervous system break, stop working, start working differently, or even die. This condition we describe as a NEUROLOGICAL DISORDER. Most of the neurological disorders are caused by one of these: brain injuries, a faulty immune system or death of neurons - neurodegeneration. If you hit your head when you fall or, while playing sports, your brain will move and bump against the inside of the skull.

This will cause the neurons in the brain to stretch and break - this is called a CONCUSSION. Because of a concussion, neurons are no longer able to carry signals between each other. This can lead to problems with memory, balance, vision, mood changes or headaches. These are signs - or SYMPTOMS of a neurological disorder that can remain for a long time after the concussion happened. Sometimes the brain does not grow properly during a pregnancy or it may be damaged during birth.

If this happens, the baby will be born with a neurological disorder. This group of brain disorders is called CEREBRAL PALSY. The symptoms of cerebral palsy are paralysis of some parts of the body, inability to control muscles, movements and balance. There are different levels of severity of cerebral palsy. In the most serious cases, people who suffer from it, might have to spend their lives in a wheelchair.

But those with less severe cases of cerebral palsy can often learn to walk and even play sports! The IMMUNE SYSTEM is a system that protects the body from diseases. But sometimes it doesn’t work as it should. Instead, it starts destroying the body’s nervous system. MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS, MS is an example of such a disorder.

The symptoms of multiple sclerosis are blurry vision, pain in different parts of the body, weakness and tiredness. While the symptoms can be treated, there is no cure for MS. The most common neurological disorders are linked to old age. Neurons don’t work as well when people get old, and many of the cells die. This process is called NEURODEGENERATION.

The most common neurological disorder caused by neurodegeneration is ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE. People who suffer from Alzheimer’s disease experience symptoms like forgetting names of their family and friends, forgetting events, tasks or new information. They also often feel lost or confused. Some neurological disorders are harder to categorise, because we don’t know exactly what causes them! EPILEPSY is one of them.

Neurons of people suffering from epilepsy sometimes send too many signals at the same time. This causes symptoms like temporary confusion and uncontrollable movements. We call this an epileptic seizure. These can happen anytime and without warning. The nervous system is responsible for many functions of the body, and if it doesn’t work, it can cause serious health problems.

But scientists are working hard to solve these problems and that helps people with neurological disorders live an ordinary life.