Brain and Nervous System

 

 

Brain and Nerves

The human brain is a complex organ that's made up of different structures called the cerebral cortex and the cerebellum, as well as many other structures. The brain has two main functions: the first is thought or intelligent activity, including reasoning, abstraction, and planning, which occurs in the neocortex (a thin layer of neurons at the outermost surface of the brain). The second function is sensory processing, which stems from input received by the thalamus (nearly a quarter-inch thick) before it passes through two other layers of neurons: the limbic system (which regulates emotions such as anger) and basal ganglia (responsible for conscious movements).

Brain and Nerves - A study of the central nervous system, with special reference to its cooperation with the senses and motor apparatus. Brain function in relation to nerve function. Sympathetic and parasympathetic divisions of the autonomic nervous system, histochemistry, and relations between the two. The effect of drugs upon nerve activity or its arrest. Neuroclipses.

Brain and Nerves Topics

Acoustic Neuroma

A small tumor of the acoustic nerve can be surgically removed. Acoustic neuroma is a benign (non-cancerous) tumor of the eighth cranial nerve.

The eighth cranial nerve is found in the ear and controls hearing, balance, and facial movement. The acoustic neuroma occurs when this nerve grows abnormally. The tumor develops from cells that are stimulated by sound waves and cause them to multiply out of control.

In most cases, acoustic neuroma is discovered during routine otolaryngology (ear, nose, throat) surgery or hearing tests. Symptoms include ringing in the ears, pain or feeling like something is stuck in your ear canal, buzzing or humming noises, or problems with balance or coordination.

Acoustic neuroma is a benign tumor of the vestibular apparatus of the inner ear that results from the overgrowth of hair cells in this structure. It usually occurs in middle-aged men, but it can also occur in women. The tumors begin as a small lump or swelling on one or both sides of the head, although they may occur anywhere in the head.

However, other research suggests that environmental factors may play a role in some cases. For example, exposure to loud noise (such as explosions) appears to increase the risk for acoustic neuromas, as does exposure to certain pesticides and herbicides.

Acromegaly

Acromegaly is a disorder in which excess levels of growth hormone are produced by the pituitary gland. The condition is characterized by dramatic increases in facial and body size, as well as excess skin and subcutaneous tissue growth.

The cause of acromegaly is an overproduction of growth hormone (GH) by the pituitary gland. GH is made by the hypothalamus and released into the bloodstream to stimulate cell division, particularly in bones and cartilage. The body also produces its own form of GH (GHRH), which prompts cells to release IGF-1, another substance that stimulates cell division.

Acromegaly occurs when too much GHRH is produced by the hypothalamus, causing excessive production of IGF-1 from the liver or pancreas. This leads to excessive growth hormone production from the pituitary gland.

Acromegaly is a chronic medical condition that causes rapid growth of the pituitary gland. The gland produces growth hormones and other hormones to stimulate growth. The stimulation causes the pituitary gland to grow abnormally, causing direct brain compression and damage to the nerves.

The symptoms of acromegaly include:

• ·        Rapidly growing jaw and facial muscles
• ·        Large hands, feet, and genitalia (phallus)
• ·        Increased hair on the head or body (hirsutism)
• ·        High blood pressure (hypertension)
• ·        Large tongue or extra folds in the oral cavity (megacystosis)

Acute Flaccid Myelitis

Acute Flaccid Myelitis is a neurological condition that causes muscle weakness in the legs and arms in a person who is usually between the ages of 12 and 18 years old. In some cases, it can also cause facial weakness. Symptoms typically begin with sudden onset of limb weakness, followed by other symptoms over the next few days. The condition may lead to permanent nerve damage and disability.

There is no known cure for Acute Flaccid Myelitis, but treatment may help reduce symptoms and prevent long-term damage to your nervous system and muscles.

Acute flaccid myelitis (AFM) is an acute neurological condition that causes widespread muscle weakness and loss of coordination in children. The cause of AFM is still unknown, but it has been linked to viral infections, environmental toxins, autoimmune disorders and other conditions.

Symptoms of AFM include:

• ·        Difficulty moving your arms or legs
• ·        Slurred speech
• ·        Vision problems

Adrenoleukodystrophy

Adrenoleukodystrophy, also known as Canavan disease and progressive leukoencephalopathy with adrenoleukodystrophy, is a progressive genetic neurological disorder that primarily affects children. It is caused by a defect in the X-linked lysosomal alpha-1,4-N-acetylgalactosaminidase (LAA1, also known as LAMP2) protein.

The disease arises from a defect in the gene for LAA1, which leads to the accumulation of an abnormal form of this enzyme. The defective protein can lead to the progressive degeneration of nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. The first symptoms of this condition appear between 2 and 5 years of age, with initial signs including poor muscle tone; poor balance; and jerky movements. These symptoms worsen over time until they become apparent before adulthood.

Adrenoleukodystrophy is uncommon; the prevalence is about 1 in 100,000 people worldwide. It affects both boys and girls equally. Most cases are sporadic and appear to be inherited as an autosomal recessive trait—meaning that two copies of an affected gene must be inherited from each parent for an individual to develop the condition (rather than one copy from each parent). However, some

Adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD) is a rare genetic disorder that affects the adrenal glands and can cause life-threatening complications.

The adrenal glands produce hormones that help control blood sugar levels, stress responses, and body temperature.

ALD is inherited in an autosomal recessive pattern, which means two copies of the gene encoding for ALD must be inherited from both parents to have the disease.

Symptoms of ALD include:

• severe fatigue
• fainting spells or near fainting during physical activity or emotional stress
• tiredness after awakening from sleep (hypoglycemia)
• extremely high or low body temperature (hyperthermia or hypothermia)

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that destroys the motor neurons of the brain and spinal cord.

The most common form of ALS is not due to genetic mutations; it is caused by degeneration of motor neurons. The cause of this degeneration is unknown. However, several factors have been identified that may contribute to its development. These include exposure to toxic substances, inflammation, and oxidative stress.

In addition to these environmental factors, research has demonstrated that mitochondria play a critical role in the development of ALS. Mitochondria are responsible for generating energy within cells and have their own DNA that can mutate independently from the genetic code within the cell nucleus.[1] When these mitochondrial genes mutate they cause a reduction in intracellular calcium levels which leads to increased production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) including hydrogen peroxide (H2O2).[2]

H2O2 can damage cellular structures including proteins, lipids, and DNA.[3] Damage to these structures may lead to cell death or may lead to changes in gene expression which could affect other cells in a way that would promote disease progression.[4]

Alzheimer's Caregivers

Alzheimer's caregiving is not for the faint of heart. But it's also rewarding and life-changing. As the caregiver, you should plan for the future, being ready to take on new responsibilities as your loved one's health declines.

You'll need to get used to the changes in your loved one's behavior and moods. You may find yourself having to remind him or her when it's time to take medications, eat or go to bed. You might also have to help with daily tasks such as bathing or dressing, which could become more difficult as your loved one loses his or her ability to do these things independently. You may feel guilty if you're no longer needed by your loved one because he or she has such a good life at home with family members helping out during the day while you're at work.

But remember: The sooner you can recognize when it is time for others to step up, the better off everyone will be!

Amnesia

Amnesia is the clinical term for a disorder that affects memory and other cognitive functions. Amnesia can be caused by damage to the brain, or by disease of the brain. It can also be caused by damage to the spinal cord at the level of the brain or cranial nerves.

Damage to the brain can occur as a result of stroke, traumatic brain injury (TBI), or other types of head trauma. Damage to the spinal cord at any level may cause amnesia, including damage due to an auto accident.

Amnesia is most often caused by damage to one side of the brain or to either side of both hemispheres. The most common type of amnesia is called anterograde amnesia; this means that information learned after an injury cannot be recalled. Anterograde amnesia usually occurs as a result of stroke or TBI (traumatic brain injury). This type of amnesia can also occur as a result of localized damage to certain parts of the brain that control memory and thinking skills.

Brain Attack

Brain controls all the activities of a person from breathing to thinking. The brain has a lot of blood vessels and nerves that are responsible for supplying oxygen and nutrients to all parts of the body. When these blood vessels and nerves get damaged, they can cause different problems like headaches, dizziness, and memory loss among others. These problems are called brain attacks.

There are different types of brain attacks:

Headache: Headaches are caused by too much pressure on the skull or by a lack of blood flow to the head. The main symptom of a headache is pain that comes from behind your eyes, above your eyebrows, or around both ears. Headaches can also be accompanied by nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to light and sound, or blurred vision. You can identify a migraine headache by its typical symptoms such as intense throbbing pain on one side of your head that spreads across both sides of the head; nausea; sensitivity to light and sound; visual disturbances such as seeing flashing lights; disturbed sleep patterns; irritability or depression

Dizziness: Dizziness can be described as an unsteadiness caused by a lack of balance due to dizziness. This unsteadiness may occur

There are a number of symptoms that can indicate a problem with your brain, including memory loss, headaches, and insomnia.

If you have any of these symptoms, it's important to see your doctor as soon as possible for diagnosis and treatment.

Risk factors for brain attacks include:

• Age: Older people are more likely to develop age-related dementia such as Alzheimer's disease than younger people.
• Gender: Men are more likely than women to suffer from dementia.
• Race: African Americans have higher rates of Alzheimer's disease than Caucasians.
• Education level: People who have less education tend to develop dementia earlier in life.

Brain Cancer

Brain cancer is a disease that can affect the brain. Brain cancer occurs when cells in the body grow out of control and form a mass called a tumor. The types of brain tumors are:

Gliomas — These tumors develop from glial cells, which are cells that support and protect nerve tissue. Gliomas most often start in the cerebellum (part of the brain) or behind the ear, but they can also occur in other parts of the brain or spinal cord.

Meningiomas — These tumors develop from neural (nerve) tissue that forms overlying membranes surrounding nerves. Most meningiomas start in the meninges, a membrane that covers the brain and spinal cord. Meningioma treatment depends on its size and location, but it often involves surgery to remove or destroy as much of it as possible while preserving important structures like the optic nerve or auditory nerve (Heuser, 2016).

Craniopharyngioma — This tumor develops from parts of either or both sides of the base of your skull (cranium) forming on top of your brain and spinal cord. Craniopharyngiomas are very rare and typically occur at birth

Headache

A headache is a common symptom of many conditions, including sinusitis, tension headaches, migraine headaches, and cluster headaches. The pain that accompanies a headache may be the result of inflammation in the lining of the sinuses or cranial nerves. It's also possible to have a headache without any underlying cause. Most headaches are mild and don't require medical attention, but if you experience severe pain that lasts for more than two weeks or becomes disabling, talk with your doctor about it.

Sinusitis

Sinusitis is an inflammation of one or more of your sinuses that causes symptoms such as congestion and postnasal drip. In most cases, symptoms appear suddenly and disappear within a few days. Sinusitis can affect one or both sides of your face and head, although it has been reported in only about 2 percent of people with this condition. You may also find yourself feeling tired and having difficulty breathing through the nose after experiencing these symptoms for more than four weeks. You may experience pressure behind the eyes (behind-the-ear syndrome), which could be due to swelling inside the cheekbones caused by inflammation in one or more sinuses; this condition usually resolves itself on its own within three weeks.

The brain and nerves are the major connections from the body to the rest of the body. A lot of things can affect these connections, such as heat, cold, and injury.

Headache is a common sign of an injury to the head or neck. It may be caused by:

1. ·        head injury
2. ·        neck injury
3. ·        brain infection
4. ·        pregnancy (maternal headache)

Headache is the most common symptom of a brain disorder. It can be caused by many things, including infection, an injury to the head or neck, or a tumor that presses on nerves in the brain.

Headaches are most often caused by inflammation (swelling) of one or more of the brain's arteries. This is usually caused by a blood clot that has traveled to the brain from somewhere else in your body.

·        Headaches can also be caused by:

·        an increase in pressure within your skull (intracranial pressure);

·        a sudden change in intracranial pressure; or

·        an interruption of blood flow to tissues in your head (ischemic stroke).

Conclusions:

If you or someone you know is dealing with a brain or nerves disorder, then it is important to seek professional help as soon as possible. With the right treatment, many of these disorders can be effectively managed and even cured.

There are a variety of disorders that can affect the brain and nervous system, ranging from mild to severe. Some common examples include migraines, Alzheimer's disease, cerebral palsy, and Parkinson's disease. While there is no cure for most of these conditions, there are treatments available that can help to improve symptoms and quality of life. If you or someone you know is dealing with a brain or nerve disorder, it is important to seek out medical help so that an accurate diagnosis can be made and appropriate treatment can be started.