Most Common Neurological Diseases

Neurological diseases are those that affect the nervous system which comprises of nerves, the brain and the spinal cord. Since the nervous system is what controls all the functions of our body, any impairment in it will lead to symptoms in different parts of the body. Some of the common ones include pain, muscle weakness, seizures, cognitive issues, paralysis, movement difficulties and personality changes. There are hundreds of neurological disorders that are affecting the human population and while some of them are rare, there are some others that are the most common neurological diseases that affect huge populations.

Some of the most common neurological diseases and their symptoms and treatments are as follows:

1. Alzheimer’s Disease:

• This is probably the most common neurological diseases that are fatal. According to he latest statistics, around 67 out of every 1000 people are affected by Alzheimer’s.
• The disease is caused by the progressive degeneration of the neurons of the brain and it worsens over time, ultimately resulting in death.
• Although the real cause of this neurological condition is yet unknown to man, some scientists suspect that it is caused due to tangles and the protein deposits of plaques that were found in the brains of affected people.
• The common symptoms of this disease include memory loss, loss of intellectual faculties, language issues, loss of judgment, confusion, movement problems and personality changes.
• Although Alzheimer’s generally affects people above the age of 60 years, there have been cases of early onset recorded.
• There is no cure for the disease although with medication and supportive living, the symptoms can be made less extreme.

2. Epilepsy:

• Epilepsy is another example of the most common neurological diseases in which recurrent episodes of brain seizures occur. Out of every 1000 people, 7 suffer from this condition.
• The exact cause of this disease is unknown too although many believe that it is caused due to head trauma.
  

3. Migraine:

• Though Migraine is not fatal as such, but it is the most common neurological disease- almost 121 people out of every 1000 are affected by it. It is generally seen in people in the age group of 15-55 years.
• The real cause is unknown although research is pointing towards environment and genetics for its cause.
• The common symptoms of migraine include painful and pulsating headaches, vomiting, nausea, perception changes and increased light and sound sensitivity.
• As mentioned earlier, it is not fatal and the symptoms can be controlled with medication and diet precautions.

4. Parkinson’s Disease:

• Parkinson’s is another example of the most common neurological diseases having a prevalence rate of 10 out every 1000 people.
• It is progressive in nature, that is, the symptoms get worse over time and the ultimate result is death. In most cases, it affects people who are older than 50 years.
• The symptoms of Parkinson’s include balance difficulties, trembling in the arms, legs, hands and face, movement issues, loss of coordination and rigidity in the arms and legs.
• No cure for Parkinson’s has been found yet though promising research is being carried out. As of now, treatment with medicines and therapies is provided to improve symptoms.