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Neurological Disorder - Meaning, Types, Symptoms & Causes

The brain controls the whole body of a living being. Hence a brain is the main connection point of uncountable nerves, and these nerves are spread throughout the body, forming a network. These nerves receive and take every sensation to the brain. Therefore, the nerves are responsible for human motor skills, and any hamper to these nerves affects the whole body. Here comes the concept of neurological disorders.

What Is a Neurological Disorder?

A neurological disorder refers to a type of condition that affects the brain and the nervous system. Therefore, it is very harmful to human beings as it affects the ability of regular brain functioning. Structural, medical, or chemical dysfunctionality in the brain, nervous system, and spinal cord cause these disorders. Neurological disorders lead to fatal diseases such as paralysis, poor brain functioning, problems with coordination, seizures, etc.

What Are the Types of Neurological Disorders?

Different types of neurological disorders can affect human health. The list is provided below.

1. Acute Spinal Cord Injury

Acute spinal cord injury is a disorder of the spinal cord. Our spinal cord has a bundle of nerves inside it. Therefore, any harm to it will directly cause a nervous disorder.

What Are the Causes of Acute Spinal Cord Injury?

The probable causes of this disease are as follows -

  • Different types of accidents
  • Falls
  • Infections
  • Birth disorders

Therefore, these reasons can partially or fully tear up the spinal cord or cause a bruise that harms the overall nervous system.

What Are the Symptoms of Acute Spinal Cord Injury?

The symptoms of an acute spinal cord injury are as follows -

  • Quadriplegia or function loss of arm and legs
  • Paraplegia or lower body function loss
  • Muscle weakness
  • Breathing problem
  • Involuntary muscle movement
  • Disorder in bowel movement, etc

What Are the Diagnosis Methods for Acute Spinal Cord Injury?

You should opt for acute spinal cord injury treatment as soon as you experience these symptoms after an accident or any mishap. The diagnosis process is as follows -

  • Blood test
  • X-Ray
  • CT scan
  • MRI

2. Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)

This is a harmful motor neuron disease related to nerve cell degeneration. In this disease, people do not lose mental functioning or seeing and hearing capabilities. In addition, the condition is not contagious. However, there is still no cure for this disease.

What Are the Causes of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)?

Experts have observed the reason for this disease is genetics. Therefore, the disease spreads through the bloodline.

What Are the Symptoms of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)?

So, it is pretty difficult to diagnose the disease at first. However, you should consult a doctor if you can see the following symptoms -

  • Twitching in hands and legs
  • Falling and tripping
  • Dropping things frequently
  • Breathing trouble
  • Paralysis
  • Uncontrollable laughter or crying
  • Faulty motor control
  • Dysfunction in hands and legs

What Are the Diagnosis Methods for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)?

If these symptoms are prevalent, you need to see an expert and run the following diagnosis -

  • MRI
  • X-Ray
  • EMG and NCS

As there is no such effective treatment, different neurological therapies can help to calm down the adverse situations.

3. Alzheimer’s Disease

Alzheimer’s disease is mainly a type of neurological disorder related to old age. It is common dementia that affects people over the age of 65. The disease happens due to the death of brain cells.

What Are the Causes of Alzheimer’s Disease?

The probable causes of this disease are as follows -

  • Genetics
  • Age factor
  • Protein deficiency
  • Immunity problems

What Are the Symptoms of Alzheimer’s Disease?

By the adverse effects of these reasons, you may notice the following symptoms prevalent in your daily life -

  • Loss of memory
  • Coordination problem
  • Losing job skills or other abilities
  • Over or abstract thinking
  • Sudden change in behaviour
  • Speaking or language problem

What Are the Diagnosis Methods for Alzheimer’s Disease?

The diagnosis processes of Alzheimer’s disease are as follows -

  • Blood test
  • MRI
  • CT scan
  • Chest X-Ray
  • Neuropsychological checkings
  • Urinalysis
  • Lumbar puncture

There is no cure for Alzheimer’s disease. However, the disease can be controlled with nutrition and counselling.

4. Ataxia

Ataxia is a type of neurological disorder that particularly harms the functioning of hand and leg muscles. The disease weakens the movement of muscles and lowers their capabilities. It can even harm speaking abilities and eye movements.

What Are the Causes of Ataxia?

The probable causes of this disease are as follows -

  • Genetic disorder
  • Protein deficiency
  • Muscle weakness

What Are the Symptoms of Ataxia?

The reasons lead your body to the adverse situation, and it starts showing symptoms like -

  • Slurred speech
  • Problem with walking
  • Writing and eating inabilities
  • Slow eye movement
  • Balance problem
  • Coordination issues

What Are the Diagnosis Methods for Ataxia?

The diagnosis processes for this disease are as follows -

  • MRI
  • Lab testing
  • Genetic testing

There is no treatment for genetic Ataxia. However, if it happens due to any other physical disorder, it can be cured with medicines. Further, the patients need to use different tools to control the problems caused by Ataxia.

5. Cerebral Aneurysm

A cerebral Aneurysm is the abnormal growth of a weak part of the brain. Therefore it puts excessive pressure on the brain wall and leads to complex situations and rapture.

What Are the Causes of Cerebral Aneurysm?

The probable causes of this disease are as follows -

  • Thin blood vessel
  • Injuries

What Are the Symptoms of Cerebral Aneurysm?

The reasons may lead to the following symptoms such as -

  • Eye pain
  • Headache
  • Change in vision
  • Fatigue, vomiting, and nausea
  • High blood pressure
  • Problem in coordination
  • Balance problem
  • Coma or death

What Are the Diagnosis Methods for Cerebral Aneurysm?

The diagnosis process of cerebral aneurysm is as follows -

  • CT scan
  • Cerebral angiography
  • MRI
  • MRA

Several techniques for treating this disease involve artery occlusion, bypass, endovascular coiling, etc.

6. Lumbar Disk Disease

The lower part of the vertebral column is known as the lumbar segment, where any kind of disorder leads to this disease.

What Are the Causes of Lumbar Disk Disease?

The probable causes of this disease are as follows -

  • Injury
  • Change in bone structure
  • Birth disorder
  • Ageing

What Are the Symptoms of Lumbar Disk Disease?

The symptoms of this disease are as follows -

  • Problems with feet and leg numbness
  • Back muscle pain
  • Unbearable back pain
  • Sciatica
  • Poor bowel movement

What Are the Diagnosis Methods for Lumbar Disk Disease?

The diagnosis process of this neurological disorder is as follows -

  • X-Ray
  • Myelogram
  • CT or CAT scan
  • EMG
  • MRI

Lumbar disk disease can be treated with operations, medicines, bed rest, and therapies.

7. Hydrocephalus

Hydrocephalus is a common neurological disorder that happens due to over or abnormal gathering of brain fluid CSF. The fluid’s flowing path is generally blocked in this type of disorder; thus, the fluid accumulates in a place that causes swelling.

What Are the Causes of Hydrocephalus?

The probable causes of this disease are as follows -

  • Stroke
  • Ageing
  • Trauma
  • Injury or diseases

What Are the Symptoms of Hydrocephalus?

The symptoms of this disease are as follows -

  • Uncontrolled bladder movement
  • Impairment in walking
  • Dementia

What Are the Diagnosis Methods for Hydrocephalus?

The diagnosis processes of this disease are as follows -

  • Neuropsychological examinations
  • MRI
  • CAT or CT scan
  • Spinal tap
  • CSF test

The only treatment available for this disease is the surgical process, which releases excess brain fluid.

8. Muscular Dystrophy

This neurological disorder directly affects the muscles and weakens them. Therefore, you will feel thoroughly weak and involuntary bodily movement. This type of disorder is prevalent among children.

What Are the Causes of Muscular Dystrophy?

The probable causes of this disease are as follows - 

  • Hereditary issues

What Are the Symptoms of Muscular Dystrophy?

The symptoms are mainly common in children. These symptoms are as follows -

  • Trouble in walking
  • Frequent falling and tripping
  • Acute pain in legs
  • Clumsy behaviour
  • Abnormal growth of calves

What Are the Diagnosis Methods for Muscular Dystrophy?

The diagnosis process of this disease are -

  • Muscle biopsy
  • EKG or ECG
  • Electromyogram

There is no cure for this disease. However, the symptoms can be controlled with medicines and therapies.

9. Neurocutaneous Syndrome

This disorder is also prevalent in children and can last their whole lives. In this type of disorder, the tumours grow anywhere in the brain, spinal cord, organs, or bones. Further, the disease affects the skin and mental abilities.

What Are the Causes of Neurocutaneous Syndrome?

The probable causes of this disease are as follows -

  • Genetic issues
  • Mutation in gene

What Are the Symptoms of Neurocutaneous Syndrome?

The warning signs of this disease are -

  • Neurofibromatosis Type 1 and 2
  • Tuberous sclerosis
  • Sturge weber disease
  • Schwannomatosis

What Are the Diagnosis Methods for Neurocutaneous Syndrome?

The diagnosis of this disease involves the following processes -

  • Biopsy
  • Eye exam
  • CT scan
  • MRI
  • EEG
  • Genetics test

The disease is incurable and lifelong. Therefore, no treatments are available, although therapies can control the symptoms.

10. Epilepsy and Seizures

Epilepsy is a widespread neurological disorder due to poor connections between nerve cells and the brain. In this disorder, people face frequent issues of fainting and sudden coordination problems. If a person experiences too many seizures is an example of epilepsy.

What Are the Causes of Epilepsy and Seizures?

The probable causes of this disease are as follows -

  • Anything that disrupts brain functioning
  • Tumours
  • Strokes

What Are the Symptoms of Epilepsy and Seizures?

The symptoms of epilepsy and seizures are as follows -

  • Stiff muscles
  • Confused attitude
  • Anxiety disorder

What Are the Diagnosis Methods for Epilepsy and Seizures?

The diagnosis processes are as follows -

  • Brain scan
  • EEG

The treatments of epilepsy involved operation, taking anti-epileptic drugs, a nutritional diet, etc.

11. Brain Tumour

One of the fatal neurological disorders is a brain tumour. This is a growth of abnormal cells in the brain which sometimes become malignant and cause cancer. Brain tumours are highly dangerous and often cause death.

What Are the Causes of Brain Tumour?

The probable causes of this disease are as follows -

  • Mutation in DNA
  • Abnormal cell development
  • Cancer

What Are the Symptoms of Brain Tumour?

The potential symptoms of brain tumours are as follows -

  • Frequent and severe headaches
  • Tiredness
  • Balance loss
  • Difficulty in speaking
  • Sudden nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Loss of coordination in everyday works
  • Decision-making problems
  • Low vision
  • Continuous mistakes in day-to-day work
  • Hearing disabilities

What Are the Diagnosis Methods for Brain Tumour?

The diagnosis process of a brain tumour is as follows -

  • Lumbar puncture
  • Biopsy
  • CT scan
  • MRI
  • Angiogram
  • X-ray
  • Neurocognitive assessment
  • Neuro-ophthalmological evaluation
  • Endocrinological evaluation

Depending on the type and size of brain tumour, there are different treatments such as medicinal therapy, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, surgery, radiosurgery, etc.

12. Bell’s Palsy

Bell’s Palsy is a sudden attack on facial muscle due to discomfort and pain in one side of the head. In this disease, the condition worsens within 48 hours. However, the condition is not permanent.

What Are the Causes of Bell’s Palsy?

The probable causes of this disease are as follows -

  • High blood pressure
  • Diabetes
  • Sarcoidosis
  • Toxins
  • Myasthenia gravis
  • Multiple sclerosis

What Are the Symptoms of Bell’s Palsy?

The signs that are the evidence of Bell’s Palsy are as follows -

  • Drooling
  • Headache
  • Loss of sensation in face
  • Problems in showing expression
  • Loss of taste and hearing

What Are the Diagnosis Methods for Bell’s Palsy?

Diagnosis is available in the following processes -

  • EMG
  • Blood test
  • MRI
  • CT scan

Though Bell’s Palsy has no cure, doctors can control the symptoms with different medicines. For example, steroids, physical therapy, antiviral medicine, analgesics, etc.

13. Guillain-Barre Syndrome

GBS is a nervous system disorder where the peripheral nervous system outside the spinal cord and brain gets attacked by the body's immune system.

What Are the Causes of Guillain-Barre Syndrome?

The causes of this disease are as follows -

  • Attacking of immune system
  • Foreign chemical materials

What Are the Symptoms of Guillain-Barre Syndrome?

The symptoms of this disease are as follows -

  • Weakness in legs
  • Neurological examinations
  • Trouble breathing
  • Paralysis

What Are the Diagnosis Methods for Guillain-Barre Syndrome?

The common diagnosis processes of this disease are -

  • Spinal tap
  • EMG
  • Nerve conduction velocity
  • Electromyography

14. Parkinson’s Disease

This is a gradual neurological disorder that happens to older people. The disease takes away motor skills and makes the body's nervous system fragile.

What Are the Causes of Parkinson’s Disease?

The causes of this disease are as follows -

  • Loss of nerve cells
  • Genetics
  • Medications

What Are the Symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease?

The symptoms of Parkinson’s disease are as follows -

  • Stiffness in muscles
  • Unusual shaking in hand and leg
  • Balance loss
  • Severe pain in nerves
  • Drowsiness
  • Insomnia
  • Slow body movement
  • Hyperhidrosis
  • Drooling

What Are the Diagnosis Methods for Parkinson’s Disease?

As the symptoms become severe, one should go to a specialist and run the following diagnosis processes -

  • Neurological evaluations
  • Physical exercise tests

Parkinson’s disease has no cure; however, observations, medications, physiotherapy, or surgeries can lower the prevalence of symptoms.

15. Migraine

Migraine is at the top of the most common neurological disorders list, a type of severe headache. The disease affects almost 10% of people globally. With headaches, the disease further includes disabling.

What Are the Causes of Migraine?

Medical professionals believe that the primary causes behind migraines include the ways nerves communicate, the balance of chemicals and the functioning of the blood vessels. Besides these, a few other causes of migraines include –

  • Family history
  • Lack of sleep
  • Tiredness
  • Tension in the shoulder and neck
  • Physical overexertion
  • Bad posture
  • Low blood sugar
  • Irregular mealtimes
  • Dehydration

What Are the Symptoms of Migraine?

The symptoms that people faces are -

  • Headache
  • Heavy feeling on the one side of head or face
  • Visual disturbances

What Are the Diagnosis Methods for Migraine?

The diagnosis procedures of migraine are as follows -

  • MRI
  • Neurological examinations

The treatment of migraine involves diet change, medicines, lifestyle changes, intake of vitamins etc.

What Are the Common Causes of Neurological Disorder?

The probable causes of Neurological disorders are as follows,

  • Lifestyle disorder
  • Frequent infections
  • Genetics issues
  • Accidents and other injuries
  • Adverse effects of harmful environment
  • Wrong medication
  • Lack of nutrition, etc.

What Are the Common Symptoms of Neurological Disorders?

The symptoms of neurological disorders are,

  • Frequent weakness
  • Weak muscles
  • Paralysis
  • Cognitive dysfunction
  • Difficulties in studies
  • Difficulties in speaking
  • Pain
  • Lack of concentration and alertness
  • Loss of sensation

Thus, hoping that this discussion on neurological disorder and its types has given you a clear idea about the diseases. Neurological disorders are pervasive; however, they can be controlled in several ways. For fatal cases, high-quality treatment and surgeries are needed. Hence, if you face continuous neurological disorder symptoms, you should consult an expert at the earliest.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which types of drugs are needed to treat migraine?

The medications for migraine are antiemetics, triptans, NSAIDs, steroids etc.

How many types of bacterial meningitis are there?

There are 4 types of bacterial meningitis. These are, neisseria meningitidis, listeria monocytogenes, haemophilus influenzae type b and streptococcus pneumonia.