The nervous system controls body functions and consists of the central and peripheral nervous systems. Disorders include Alzheimer’s, stroke, multiple sclerosis, and epilepsy, which can cause memory loss, brain damage, loss of bodily control, and seizures. Treatment can control symptoms, but there is no known cure.
Responsible for controlling and directing basic body functions and activities, the nervous system consists of the central and peripheral nervous systems. The central nervous system is responsible for the activities of the brain and spinal cord, and the peripheral nervous system regulates neurons. Because of its complexity, the nervous system is prone to disturbances involving the brain, spinal cord, and other tissues in the body. Nervous system disorders can include Alzheimer’s disease, stroke, multiple sclerosis, and epilepsy.
Degenerative disorders of the nervous system, such as Alzheimer’s disease, occur when cells in the nervous system deteriorate. Alzheimer’s disease, a progressive and irreversible disease, mainly affects adults over the age of 60. The disease is characterized by memory loss; as the disorder progresses, a person with Alzheimer’s often experiences confusion, disorientation, and changes in behavior as more neurons in the brain die. Alzheimer’s can become so severe that a person affected by the disease can be bedridden, unable to communicate, and rely on others for basic care.
Vascular disorders, which include strokes, transient ischemic attacks (TIAs), and bleeding, are another type of nervous system disorder that affects the brain. A person suffers a stroke when blood flow and oxygen to the brain is cut off. Clots in the brain or bleeding in the brain can cause strokes. During a stroke, a person can lose thousands of blood cells, which can lead to permanent brain damage or even death. After suffering a stroke, an individual may have trouble walking and communicating.
Some nervous system disorders can also be a result of the body’s immune system being attacked. One such autoimmune disease is multiple sclerosis – MS is also degenerative – which is more common in women than men. Multiple sclerosis causes nerve impulses that carry messages from the brain and spinal cord to go haywire, resulting in decreased or even loss of bodily control. Symptoms typically include problems with balance and walking, weakness in the limbs, numbness, and difficulty seeing. While there is no known cure for multiple sclerosis, treatment can keep symptoms under control. However, the attacks can lead to a point where a person with the disorder needs a wheelchair to get around.
When the electrical impulses in the brain become unstable, a seizure can occur. Seizures are a general symptom of nervous system disorders; some others include headaches, blurred or double vision, lack of coordination, and muscle stiffness. Persistent seizures can lead to a nervous system disorder known as epilepsy, sometimes referred to as seizure disorder. A person with epilepsy can lose consciousness and experience a seizure that can last seconds or minutes. While a person with epilepsy can live a normal life on medication, they may be at risk if a seizure causes injury following a fall or occurs while driving.
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