Diseases Of The Central Nervous System

Diseases of the central nervous system - Diseases of the central nervous system: main pathologies

The nervous system is extremely important since it is responsible for many organs in our body functioning optimally. This system is made up of two different systems, one is the peripheral nervous system and the other is the Central Nervous System In the peripheral nervous system are the nerves that are located outside the spinal cord and brain, while the central nervous system is made up of the brain and spinal cord.

When there is some pathology in the central nervous system, the problems that this can cause are serious and diseases of the central nervous system can appear in people of any age. In this PsychologyFor article: diseases of the central nervous system we are going to let you know what the main pathologies of this system are.

Diseases of the central nervous system: main pathologies

The brain is the organ that is responsible for carrying out the higher functions of our body, such as memory and other cognitive functions. The spinal cord and nerves derived from the brain are responsible for controlling movements.

Some main diseases of the central nervous system are the following:

  • Epilepsy
  • Brain tumors
  • Meningitis
  • Multiple sclerosis
  • Encephalitis
  • Dementia
  • Tourette
  • Alzheimer’s

Next, we are going to define these pathologies so that you can clear up all your doubts about their symptoms and treatment

Diseases of the central nervous system - Diseases of the central nervous system: main pathologies

1. Epilepsy

Epilepsy is a brain disorder which is characterized because the person who suffers from it has a long-lasting predisposition to generate epileptic seizures because their neurons do not function correctly. This central nervous system disease It is chronic and the person who suffers from it may manifest epileptic seizures unexpectedly and spontaneously, so it is not only a physical problem, but the consequences can also be cognitive, psychological and social.

It is important to take into account that for us to be able to talk about epilepsy, the person must have had at least two seizures in an interval greater than 24 hours between one epileptic attack and another, without there being an apparent cause and when it is proven that after Having suffered an epileptic attack, the person has a tendency for it to recur. It is very important that the person is correctly examined and diagnosed since almost half of the people who suffer an epileptic attack do not repeat it again and therefore we cannot speak of epilepsy.

If you want to know more about this disorder, we recommend reading the following article about types of epilepsy and their symptoms.

2. Meningitis

When there is an infection in the brain and spinal cord, this can lead to highly severe inflammation. Among the main symptoms that appear when inflammation occurs are fever, headache, confusion and even, in the worst cases, the affected person can suffer serious brain damage, which may result in seizures causing a cerebrovascular accident to appear and can even lead to death.

When we talk about meningitis, we are talking about a acute inflammatory response of the meninges that occurs due to a bacterial or viral infection due to a fungal infection, a reaction to some treatment, some other inflammatory disease or some type of cancer, spinal or brain injuries, etc.

Diseases of the central nervous system - 2. Meningitis

3. Encephalitis

It is a brain inflammation, which is mainly caused by a virus, although it can also be caused by bacteria. This type of condition can be low or high severity, I feel mostly mild. When it is a mild encephalitis, the symptoms that the affected person presents are similar to those of the flu and the treatment would only consist of getting enough rest, drinking plenty of fluids as well as taking the medication prescribed by the doctor. However, in the worst cases, people may present some serious symptoms such as sudden fever, severe headaches, seizures, confusion, among others.

Encephalitis: treatment

Treatment for more severe cases includes hospitalization of the person in order to have the disease well controlled and if it has affected some brain functions, it is recommended to carry out rehabilitation with physiotherapists and speech therapists.

4. Tourette: a curious disorder of the central nervous system

Tourette syndrome is a neurological condition of genetic origin that manifests itself in childhood or adolescence. The person who suffers from this disease makes movements, abnormal tics or sounds and has very poor control over these. The first symptoms that develop during this syndrome are those of the face, trunk and arms.

It is also possible that the person repeats certain words and sometimes swears continuously. On the other hand, there are facial tics, which include blinking, grimacing, twitching of the nose, etc. which are carried out continuously and quickly. This syndrome can lead to other types of disorders such as obsessive-compulsive disorder, anxiety disorders, depression, and attention hyperactivity disorders. Until now, it is unknown what the cause of this condition is, which is more common in males than in females.

Diseases of the central nervous system - 4. Tourette: a curious disorder of the central nervous system

5. Alzheimer’s

Alzheimer’s is a type of dementia that occurs progressively and destroys memory and important cognitive functions such as intellectual and social skills. People who suffer from Alzheimer’s present different symptoms that worsen as the disease progresses. Among the most common are the problems concentrating, confusion, difficulty solving problems and in the most serious cases, the person may suffer major personality changes, have problems communicating orally and in writing, disorientation in time and place, problems performing their daily tasks, forgetting about their family and close people, among others. others more. Finally, in the last stages of the disease they become totally dependent people.

Causes of Alzheimer’s

This pathology progressively kills brain cells and their connections. As for the causes that produce it, it has been found that it has been a consequence of different genetic and environmental factors and due to the lifestyle that the person has led.

Diseases of the central nervous system - 5. Alzheimer's

6. Multiple sclerosis: a serious disease of the nervous system

Multiple sclerosis is a chronic disease which occurs due to the lack of a substance called myelin, which is responsible for wrapping and protecting the nerve fibers of our central nervous system. Myelin contains proteins and fats, which are necessary for proper conduction of electrical impulses between nerve fibers. Due to the lack of myelin, scars then occur in the affected areas of the central nervous system and these scars are called sclerosis. When myelin does not perform its function correctly or is destroyed, the electrical impulses that go to the brain are abruptly interrupted, which results in the appearance of a series of symptoms.

Sclerosis multiple: symptoms

Among the main symptoms suffered by a person with multiple sclerosis are the following:

  • loss of muscle strength
  • vision problems or loss of vision in one eye
  • tingle
  • pain
  • trouble maintaining balance

When the disease is at a more advanced level, other types of symptoms may appear, such as muscle stiffness, sexual problems, loss of memory and concentration, and it is common for people with this disease to end up developing depression due to their condition. . It must be taken into account that symptoms vary from one person to another and due to the type of multiple sclerosis they present.

Diseases of the central nervous system - 6. Multiple sclerosis: a serious disease of the nervous system

Other central nervous system disorders

In addition to the entire list of diseases of the nervous system, there are other lesser known pathologies but with symptoms that must be detected to be treated in time.

  • Arachnoid cysts
  • Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
  • Huntington’s chorea
  • Brain tumors
  • Autoimmune diseases
  • Paralepsy or mental inertia

This article is merely informative, at PsychologyFor we do not have the power to make a diagnosis or recommend a treatment. We invite you to go to a psychologist to treat your particular case.

If you want to read more articles similar to Diseases of the central nervous system we recommend that you enter our Neurosciences category.

References
  1. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. (2016, December 21). Meningitis and encephalitis. Retrieved September 28, 2018, from https://espanol.ninds.nih.gov/trastornos/meningitis_y_encephalitis.htm
  2. Andalusian Epilepsy Association. (2014, October 12). What is epilepsy? Retrieved September 28, 2018, from https://www.apiceepilepsia.org/que-es-la-epilepsia/que-es-la-epilepsia-definicion/
  3. Institute of Neuropathology of the Bellvitge University Hospital. (sf). Diseases of the central nervous system: the solution is found in the brain. Retrieved September 28, 2018, from http://www.bellvitgehospital.cat/info_corporativa/donorflyer.pdf
  4. Multiple sclerosis Spain. (sf). Multiple sclerosis: what it is. Retrieved September 28, 2018, from https://www.esclerosismultiple.com/esclerosis-multiple/que-es/

You may be interested:  They Manage to Clone the First Monkeys with the Dolly Method