Guide To Serious Nervous System Disorders

The nervous system is the organ system responsible for the coordination and regulation of an individual's body activities. There are two primary divisions of an individual's nervous system: the peripheral nervous system and the central nervous system. The peripheral nervous system consists of all of the nerves and neural elements around the body that are not part of the spinal cord and brain. The central nervous system refers to all the nerves and neural components included in the spinal cord and brain. Other components of the nervous system include the ears, smell sensory organs, skin sensory receptors, eyes, taste sensory organs, and muscle sensory receptors. When there is a problem with the structure and or function of any components of the nervous system, it is referred to as a nervous system disorder.

There are hundreds of nervous system disorders, with some being more serious than others. Let's get familiar with some of the most well-known now.

Alzheimer's Disease

Alzheimer's disease is a progressive neurological disorder that causes the cells in an individual's brain to degenerate. Alzheimer's disease is the result of lifestyle, genetic, and environmental factors that cause damage to the tissues of the brain over time. The hallmark symptom in Alzheimer's disease patients is the loss of memory, beginning with forgetting conversations and recent events. Eventually, an affected individual will start to repeat questions and statements, misplace possessions, get lost in familiar places, forget the names of everyday objects, forget the names of family members, and be unable to put together the right words to express what they want to say. Multitasking becomes difficult, and an inability to concentrate develops. The ability to make judgments and decisions that are reasonable deteriorates and routine activities become difficult. A diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease is made with a neurological exam, lab testing, mental status tests, neuropsychological testing, and brain imaging. Treatment includes the use of medications to slow the progression of the disease and supportive care for the mental and behavioral symptoms.

Read more about the different nervous system disorders now.