Brain & Nervous System

Peripheral neuropathy is a condition characterized by damage to the part of the nervous system that sends signals from the spinal cord and brain to the rest of the body. This can result in...

According to neurologychannel.com, approximately 4 million people in the United States have seizure disorders, as of 2009. Your risk is increased when you reach the age of 55.

Stroke causes the third highest number of deaths in the United States annually and is a leading cause of disability among older Americans. It is nearly always the result of blocked carotid arteries.

A seizure is a disruption of brain activity that results in abnormal behavior. There are a variety of different types of seizures, and each seizure is classified as either "general" or "partial."...

A brain aneurysm can rupture suddenly, often with no warning. Although it is possible to recover from an aneurysm, there may be some side effects after recovery.

Your spine has soft cushions that are found between vertebrae known as discs. Over the years, these discs lose their elasticity and begin to cause pain.

The cervical spine is what holds your head on your shoulders. It houses your spinal cord, extending through the vertebrae to provide sensory and motor input to your extremities. Pressure or...

The ability to taste and smell play an intricate role in the way we enjoy certain things: cologne, a flower and the aroma of your favorite dish. Your ability to taste and smell can also keep you...

Cerebral palsy is a lifelong condition that can be caused by an infection during pregnancy, oxygen shortage to the fetus during birth, drug or alcohol use during pregnancy or Rh incompatibility...

Neurological diseases are disorders affecting the brain, spinal cord, eyes and sensory organs, as a result of illness, infection, injury, tumors or birth defects. These conditions may be barely...

The sciatic nerve is a large nerve that extends from the base of the spine, branches into two parts and runs down the rear of each buttock and leg. When pinched, irritated, inflamed or injured, it...

A spinal tap, also called a lumbar puncture, is used to obtain a sample of cerebrospinal fluid from the area around the spinal cord. The procedure is also used to measure the pressure of the...

Seizures are periods of disturbed brain function that result in changes to behavior and attention. Approximately 2.5 million people in the United States have a seizure disorder, according to the...

Hypertension is a precursor to many cerebrovascular diseases that can lead to a debilitating condition. In a 2002 press release from the World Health Organization, cerebral vascular accident (CVA)...

Meningitis is irritation and inflammation of the brain and spinal cord coverings. It will cause a change in the cerebral spinal fluid of the brain.

A pinched nerve in the lower back can cause pain in the back and down the legs. There are some immediate ways to treat the pain, and some long-term solutions designed to help control the pain.

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis or ALS is a neuromuscular disease that slowly takes away a person's ability to move and control their muscles. It is often known as Lou Gehrig's disease. Gehrig was...

Radiology is defined as the use of radiation and imaging technology to diagnose and treat disease. CT scans, X-rays, MRIs, ultrasounds, and bone scans all fall into the category of radiology....

Endometriosis is a condition in which tissue that is normally confined to a woman's uterus grows elsewhere in the body. It is most common in the ovaries, fallopian tubes and pelvis, but in rare...

Head injuries can occur at any moment, such as during rigorous activity, like sports, or a traumatic event, like a car crash. All head injuries and their subsequent symptoms should be taken...

Cerebral palsy (CP) encompasses a broad range of physically disabling motor conditions. Although it has no cure, a variety of treatments can allow people to live a fairly normal life.. Many times,...

Meningitis, sometimes referred to as spinal meningitis, is an inflammation of the membranes of the brain and spinal cord caused by either a virus or bacteria, or less commonly by a fungus. If left...

Seizures are uncontrolled electrical "misfires" within the brain that present in any number of ways, included shaking, twitching, drooling, losing consciousness and having a dazed look. There are...

The various chemicals in the brain have a special balance that is required for humans to function properly. Dopamine is just one of those chemicals. Too much or too little dopamine can have...

According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke Therapy division of the National Institute of Health, brain injury therapy can be divided into acute treatment and...

Spina bifida is a type of birth defect that affects the development of the tube that forms into the baby's brain and spinal cord. According to the Spina Bifida Association (SBA), there are...

Possibly caused by defects, temporal lobe seizures remain a very serious condition and do not always respond to medicine. Surgery may be a viable option but it's important to recognize the signs...

Bell's palsy is a condition characterized by facial paralysis that occurs suddenly and without warning. It occurs when the seventh cranial nerve, which is responsible for controlling facial...

Tethered spinal cord syndrome is a genetic condition that causes progressive neurological decay. It is a complication of spina bifida. The first symptoms appear during childhood, but it often goes...

Foot neuropathy can be incapacitating and dangerous. Proper care of your feet will go a long way toward improving your ability to function with this disease. There are treatments you and your...

Maintaining your balance depends on several sensory systems in your brain, one of which is the thalamus. If this system is damaged from disease or trauma, you may experience problems maintaining...

Petit mal or absence seizures usually begin during childhood between the ages of four and twelve. Although in many cases the causes of petit mal seizures are not determinable, they can be signs of...

Spinal cord injury (SCI) describes traumatic damage to the spinal cord, which extends from the brain through the center of the bones (vertebrae) of the neck and back. Damage may be the result of...

Closed head injuries happen frequently to adults, and they often result in health problems and loss of productivity. You are at risk for a closed head injury, which is an injury to your head that...

The radial nerve plays an important role in protecting people from serious injury. While some injuries are difficult to overcome, radial nerve damage is not, and recovery is often a simple and...

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, also called Lou Gehrig's disease, is a slowly progressing disease that leaves a person's muscles unable to receive messages from their brain. As this happens, the...

ALS, short for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, is a disabling and deadly condition that affects 0.002 percent of the population. Most ALS is not hereditary, though up to 10 percent of cases may be...

Traumatic injury to the brain can be caused by a blow to the head, automobile accident, combat, sports, or concussion (shaken baby syndrome). Acquired brain injuries can happen from oxygen...

Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that derives from an amino acid known as tyrosine. It is essential to numerous bodily systems including the renal, cardiovascular, endocrine and central nervous...

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a debilitating disorder that attacks the brain. A patient suffering from PD finds it difficult to control the movements of his body, even simple actions like walking,...

The brain is the processing center of the nervous system, which sends out and receives signals from the nerves that run throughout the body. The brain contains billions of neurons, or nerve cells,...

Rolandic seizures, a form of epileptic seizure, typically affect children. During these seizures, which typically last about two minutes, the child remains fully conscious. Scientists have...

Parkinson's disease is a brain disorder that is caused by low levels of the chemical dopamine in the brain, which causes physical impairments such as tremors and poor balance. People with this...

Nerves provide sensory input and output for the body. Any damage caused to nerves, such as through trauma or injury, may mildly or severely decrease motor functions and cause debilitating pain....

Seizures are an indication of problems in the brain. Seizures can cause symptoms as mild as subtle sensory or awareness changes to severe effects such as convulsions and brain damage.

Nerve pain, also referred to as neuralgia, can occur in people of any age. Signs and symptoms of nerve pain depend on which nerve is affected. Types of neuralgia include glossopharyngeal...

Peripheral nerves are those nerves that branch out from the spinal cord and transmit messages to and from your brain. When these nerves are damaged by trauma, pressure or disease, the condition is...

The ulnar nerve is one of three major nerves in the arms. The ulnar nerve runs from under the collarbone all the way down to the fingers. Symptoms of ulnar nerve damage include numbness, tingling...

Epilepsy is a disease of the brain. It matriculates in episodes of disturbed brain function (seizures) that are caused by increased cerebral activity. Most often, seizures are brief and cause...

Brain calcifications, also called Fahr's Syndrome or calcinosis, are characterized by the formation of calcium deposits in the soft tissues of your brain. Symptoms associated with brain...