Types Of Neurological Diseases

Today, the different types of neurological diseases (or disorders associated with the brain, spinal cord and nerves) are growing more rapidly and becoming more significant. According to the 2010 statistics of the WHO or the World Health Organization, more than 450 million people all over the world are suffering from neurological disorders and the behaviors that accompany these conditions. The different types of neurological diseases include:

1. Vascular Neurological Diseases:

These are the neurological problems that affect the blood vessels. The most common vascular disorders that are prevalent today include

• TIA or transient ischemic attacks,
• subarachnoid hemorrhage (brain bleeding between the tissues surrounding the brain and the brain),
• extra-dural hemorrhage )brain blood vessel rupture that is caused due to a fracture in the skull),
• hematoma (increased blood pressure in the brain due to blood pooling) and
• subdural hemorrhage.

Vascular diseases are generally seen in kids and adolescents.

2. Infection Related Neurological Diseases:

According to the WHO, infections are the main cause of most neurological conditions. Of all the different types of neurological diseases, this is one of the most prevalent. These diseases generally start elsewhere and slowly grow to reach the brain and cause disorders or death. The most common infection related neurological diseases include:

• meningitis(inflammation of the coverings of the brain caused due to virus or bacteria and resulting in death or brain damage)
• epidural abscess (pus collection in the outer brain layer and spinal cord)
• polio (infection caused by fecal-oral contact leading to paralysis) and
• encephalitis (inflammation of the tissues of the brain).

3. Functional Neurological Diseases:

• Of the different types of neurological diseases, those that result from malfunction are apparently the most common. This type includes
• migraines and headaches
• dizziness
• neuralgia or nerve pain that has no explanation and
• epilepsy or seizures.

 

4. Structural Neurological Diseases:

These types of neurological diseases are the ones that are caused due to a traumatic injury in the brain, the skull or vascular and nervous systems. The most common conditions that are caused due to abnormal structures include:

• tumors,
• Bell’s palsy or paralysis of the face,
• CTS or carpel tunnel syndrome which is a compression of the median nerve in the wrist,
• Guillian Barre Syndrome a peripheral nervous system disease caused due to autoimmunity and
• peripheral neuropathy peripheral nervous system damage

5. Degenerative Neurological Diseases:

These include those diseases that are caused due to the progressive damage of the neurons of the brain and spinal cord. These include

• Multiple sclerosis which is a disorder characterized by loss of sensation, spasms, poor coordination and muscle weakness,
• Lou Gehrig’s Disease of Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) which causes paralysis and muscle weakness,
• Parkinson’s Disease which is a neurological condition characterized by tremors, muscle rigidity and changes in the speech and gait
• Huntington’s Disease which is a genetic neurological condition which causes clumsiness, behavioral issues and poor coordination and
• Alzheimer’s Disease which is a condition that gradually progresses causing loss of ability to make decisions, memory loss and problems related to behavior.