https://health.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/policy/neurological-disorders-contribu te-10-of-the-total-disease-burden-in-india-study/84431008
Neurological diseases are associated with the brain and neurons. These diseases target the nervous system and the organs like the spinal cord and the brain. Such diseases are life-hampering and are detrimental to our body's basic and most important system.
Common Neurological Diseases and Their Causes
Common neurological diseases include- Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, Dementia, Epilepsy, and so on. Some common symptoms and indicators of neurological disorders are muscle stiffness, headaches, memory loss, cognitive difficulties, seizures, and tremors- thus the entire body is vulnerable to the effects of these types of diseases.
Let’s look into some common neurological disorders. Starting with Alzheimer’s, also commonly known as dementia. The people who are most prone to Alzheimer’e are senior citizens, above
the age of 60. This is the most widespread neurological disease with 5.2 million Americans getting affected. Alzheimer’s is a progressive disease that has various stages of development and causes brain cells to die. This leads to shrinkage of the brain.
The common causes of the disease are genetic traits, excessive protein deposition, immune system problems, age, and other environmental factors.
Another neurological disease is Epilepsy which makes people more susceptible to having recurrent seizures. It is one of the most common disorders of the nervous system and affects people of all ages, races, and ethnic backgrounds. Almost 2.2 million Americans live with epilepsy. Anything that interrupts the normal connections between nerve cells in the brain can cause a seizure. This includes a high fever, low blood sugar, high blood sugar, alcohol or drug withdrawal, or a brain concussion. Under these circumstances, anyone can have one or more seizures. However, when a person has two or more seizures, he or she is considered to have epilepsy. There are many possible causes of epilepsy, including an imbalance of nerve-signaling chemicals called neurotransmitters, tumors, strokes, and brain damage from illness or injury, or some combination of these. In the majority of cases, there may be no cause that can be discovered for epilepsy.
Another one of the most common neurological diseases is Parkinson’s. This disease, which typically hits people past the age of 65, is progressive, gradually stripping away motor abilities, leaving people with a slow and awkward gait, rigid limbs, tremors, shuffling, and a lack of balance. Most cases arise spontaneously; some are hereditary. What is known is that brain cells in the area of the brain called the "substantia nigra" die off. These are the cells that manufacture the molecule dopamine, a chemical that helps control muscle movement. Thanks to recent advances in the lab, including the pinpointing of several Parkinson's genes, research is exploding. Scientists are now picking apart newly discovered biochemical pathways involved in the disease and uncovering new targets for therapy (Hopkins Medicine, 2020).
Conclusion
There is no medicinal substitute for curing neurological disorders, although researchers are finding targets for therapy to undo the effects of neurological diseases, research has also shown that simple exercise and a healthy diet and lifestyle are the most effective protection strategies against neurological disorders.
Written By: Advika Pundlik
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