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• Neurological disorders


  Disorders that affect the brain as well as the nerves found throughout the human body and the spinal cord
• Neurological disorders


  • Structural, biochemical or electrical abnormalities in the brain, spinal cord or other nerves can result in a range of symptoms
  • Examples of symptoms include paralysis, muscle weakness, poor coordination, loss of sensation, seizures, confusion, pain and altered levels of consciousness
• Causes of neurological disorders

  • Birth defects
  • Genetic disorders
  • Brain injury
  • Vascular disorders
  • Degeneration
  • Inflammation
  • Infections
• Birth defects


  • Spina bifida
• Genetic disorders


  • Myotonic dystrophy
• Brain injury


  • Trauma
• Vascular disorders


  • Stroke
• Degeneration


  • Parkinson's disease
• Inflammation


  • Multiple sclerosis
• Infections


  • Meningitis
• Space-occupying lesions


  • Oedema
• Spina bifida


  Underdevelopment of spine and spinal cord, neural tube defect, defects in spinal cord and bones of spine
• Spina bifida


  • Cause: Unknown, lack of folic acid before and in early pregnancy
  • Three types: Myelomeningocele, meningocele, spina bifida occulta
  • Treatment: Surgery to close the opening of the spine (however nervous system damaged)
  • Problems: Weakness or paralysis of the legs, bowl and urinary incontinence, learning difficulties
• Trauma


  External, physical assault damages the brain, can be focal or diffuse, open brain injury: break in skull, closed brain injury: nonpenetrating, rapid movement/shaking of the brain
• Myotonic dystrophy


  Degeneration of muscular tissue, symptoms: muscle wasting and weakness in lower legs, hands, neck and face, endpoint: disability, cause: mutation in DMPK (type 1) and CNBP (type 2) genes which play a role in communication within cells, treatment: no cure or specific treatment, ankle supports and leg braces can help when muscle weakness, medications that can lessen muscle cramps and stiffness
• Stroke


  No blood supply to part of the brain, serious life-threatening condition, signs: numbness/weakness in face, arm or leg (especially on one side of body), confusion, trouble speaking and seeing, loss of balance, lack of coordination, effects: weakness or paralysis and sensory impairment, problems with speech and understanding language, visual problems, death, treatment: medication to dissolve blood clots, reduce blood pressure and cholesterol
• Meningitis


  Infection of the protective membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord (meninges), can cause life-threatening blood poisoning and result in permanent damage to the brain or nerves if not treated quickly, cause: bacteria (e.g. neisseria meningitidis) or viruses (e.g. herpes simplex/HIV), symptoms: fever, headache, rash, drowsiness, seizures, outcome (if not treated quickly): hearing or vision loss, problems with memory and concentration, recurrent seizures (epilepsy), co-ordination, movement and balance problems, loss of affected limbs (amputation), treatment: vaccines for prevention, antibiotics/antiviral medication
• Multiple sclerosis (MS)


  Disease of the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord), auto-immune disease: immune system gets confused and attacks the nerve cells, damaging this protective sheath (demyelination), demyelination disrupts the 'messages' being transmitted from and to the brain, cause: unclear (combination of genetic and environmental factors), symptoms: fatigue, difficulty walking, muscle stiffness and spasms, problems with balance and co-ordination, treatment: no cure, but several treatment control condition
• Alzheimer's disease


  Affects the brain, cause: abnormal build-up of proteins (amyloid, tau) in and around brain cells, symptoms: stage 1: memory lapses, stage 2: worsen of memory problems, stage 3: severe memory and physical problems, treatment: no cure, but medication that temporarily reduce symptoms (acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitors (donepezil), memantine)
• Parkinson's disease


  Progressive neurodegenerative disorder, death of specific brain cells (neurons) in substantia nigra, lack of dopamine (coordinates movement), cause: genetic and environmental factors, symptoms: tremor, slow movement (bradykinesia), stiff and inflexible muscles, treatment: no cure, but medications can help control the symptoms (levodopa, dopamine agonists (pramipexole, ropinirole), MAO-inhibitors (selegiline, rasagiline))
• Psychiatric disorders


  Disorders that greatly disturb a person's thinking, moods, and/or behaviour and seriously increases the risk of disability, pain, death, or loss of freedom, affects the brain's chemistry and function, disrupts the communication between the neurons, these changes also affect the flow of neurotransmission, examples of symptoms include reduced ability to concentrate, deep, ongoing sadness, or feeling 'down', extreme tiredness, low energy, or sleeping problems, strong feelings of fear, worry, or guilt
• Types of psychiatric disorders

  • Autism
  • Bipolar disorder
  • ADHD
  • Major depressive disorder
  • Schizophrenia
• Autism


  Highly variable neurodevelopmental disorder, autistic people may be severely impaired in some respects but average, or even superior, in others, symptoms: impairments in social interaction, impairments in communication, and repetitive behaviour, cause: unclear (genetics?), factors: GI disorders, seizures, sleep disorders, anxiety, depression, treatment: behavioural management therapy, cognitive behaviour therapy, educational and school-based therapies, medication: antidepressants, stimulants, antipsychotics, psychoactive drugs
• Bipolar disorder


  Mood disorder that causes person's mood swing from an extreme high (mania) to an extreme low (depression), mania: happy, excited, full of ideas, racing thoughts, talking quickly, doing things you normally wouldn't do which can cause problems, depression: low mood, less energy, tired, feeling hopeless or negative, cause: unclear (genetics?), treatment: medication (lithium, anticonvulsant medicines, antipsychotic medicines), cognitive behaviour therapy
• Major depressive disorder


  Mood disorder that causes a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest, causes: unknown, factors: biological differences, brain chemistry, hormones, inherited traits, symptoms: sadness, tearfulness, emptiness or hopelessness, loss of interest or pleasure in most or all normal activities, sleep disturbances, tiredness and lack of energy, treatment: antidepressants (citalopram, sertraline, duloxetine, fluoxetine, mirtazapine, amitriptyline)
• Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)


  Medical condition showing differences in brain development and brain activity that affect attention, the ability to sit still, and self-control, causes: unclear, strong evidence that ADHD is mostly inherited, symptoms: impulsiveness, disorganization and problems prioritizing, poor time management skills, concentration problems, treatment: medication (improve attention by helping normal brain chemicals work better), behaviour therapy, parent coaching, school support
• Schizophrenia


  Serious mental disorder, causes: unknown, combination of physical, genetic, psychological and environmental factors, triggers: stress, drug abuse, symptoms: positive (hallucinations, delusions, disorganised thinking), negative (lack of motivation, losing interest in life and activities), treatment: antipsychotic drugs (clozapine, olanzapine, risperidone), cognitive behavioural therapy, electroconvulsive therapy
• Psychologist vs psychiatrist


  Psychologist: deals with mental, emotional or behavioural disorders, diagnosis, management and prevention, cannot prescribe medication, studies mind and behaviour of humans, concerned with thoughts, feelings, motivation

  Psychiatrist: medical doctor, specialist, deals with mental, emotional or behavioural disorders, diagnosis, management and prevention, can prescribe medication