Neurological disorders are the group of diseases that affect the brain, the spine and the various nerves that connect them both. While there are more than 600 types of neurological diseases that are recognized by the medical world, there are some that are really common and occur more frequently.
Unlike the popular perception, neurological disorders are not just limited to old age. In fact, some diseases such as Alzheimer’s can start as early as the mid-30s. Here is a look at 5 most common types of neurological disorders and their symptoms, to help you spot them better.
1. Alzheimer’s
The most common neurological disorder is definitely Alzheimer, with a large number of senior citizens being diagnosed with the same each year, all over the world. Also known as AD, Alzheimer disease is a type of neuro-degenerative disease, which means that while it starts off slow, the condition really worsens with time. While the time it takes to move from the first stage to the really bad one can vary from person to person, the average life expectancy after the diagnosis is about 3 to 9 years.
Symptoms:
- Short term memory loss, or problems in remembering regular things.
- Difficulty in speaking.
- Sudden mood swings.
- Unable to remember places or directions.
- Starting something but forgetting to complete the same.
- Not able to take care of self.
2. Migraines
While you may not think of migraine as a neurological disease, it is a very common condition that affects a lot of people, and almost three times the number of women as men. Migraine is a condition where you feel a throbbing in one part of the head or extreme pain and pulsing. It is a type of extreme sensitivity towards loud noises and harsh lights that can cause severe headaches along with other symptoms. In many cases, patients are able to understand when a migraine is about to begin, as there is almost always a difficulty in vision. It mostly affects one part of the head and can last from an hour to as long as 72 hours!
Symptoms
- Light or severe sensitivity to light.
- Nausea.
- Throbbing pain in one part of the head or at the temples.
- Difficulty in vision.
- Vision going black.
- Seeing blurry or seeing lines in vision.
- Severe sensitivity to smell or sound.
3. Parkinson’s Disease
Parkinson’s Disease, also known as PD, falls under a group of diseases that are known as motor system disorders. It is a type of disorder where the symptoms take time to show up, and slowly progress from start to getting worse. Genetic build as well as certain environmental causes are thought to increase the chances of getting affected with PD. Those who have a family member who has suffered PD are also at a higher risk.
Symptoms:
- Dementia and forgetfulness .
- Problems with sleep.
- Anxiety.
- Depression.
- Emotional upheaval and sudden mood swings.
- Problem in walking.
- Mild or severe shaking of the hands, tremors.
- Sensory issues.
4. Epilepsy
Another very common condition that afflicts a lot of people is epilepsy, which leads to epileptic seizures. The seizures can be for a little while, or take a long time to subside. While the cause is unknown, it can sometimes be caused after an injury to the brain, after a stroke, some form of infection to the brain or some form of birth defect. The seizures can repeat often or in some cases be a one or twice affair.
Symptoms:
- Fainting.
- Sudden tremors especially in the hands and legs.
- Sudden confusion for short term.
- Staring at a fixed spot and not realizing.
- Not aware of immediate environment or situation.
5. Brain Tumor
Brain tumour is a type of growth that in the brain cells which goes out of control and grows at a random pace. While there is no known cause why a brain tumour happens, it is also very difficult to understand who is at risk. While almost half of the brain cancer cases are not cancerous, they can be removed with the help of surgery. Removing the tumour can help the patient lead a better life and also improve life expectancy.
Symptoms
- New occurrence of headaches or difference in the type of headaches experienced till date.
- Increase in the severity of headaches.
- Nausea or vomiting without any explained reason.
- Problems in vision, blurry vision, temporary loss of vision.
- Gradual problem in movement or sensation.
- Problems with speech.
- Problems with balancing.
While the above symptoms may not necessarily mean you have the condition, make sure you consult a doctor and get an assessment done, especially if you experience more than one of the above symptoms.
