Nervous System Diseases

Multiple Sclerosis- a chronic, typically progressive disease involving damage to the sheaths of
nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, whose symptoms may include numbness, impairment of
speech and of muscular coordination, blurred vision, and severe fatigue.
Meningitis-inflammation of the meninges caused by viral or bacterial infection and marked by
intense headache and fever, sensitivity to light, and muscular rigidity, leading (in severe cases) to
convulsions, delirium, and death.
Parkinsons disease- a progressive disease of the nervous system marked by tremor, muscular
rigidity, and slow, imprecise movement, chiefly affecting middle-aged and elderly people. It is
associated with degeneration of the basal ganglia of the brain and a deficiency of the
neurotransmitter dopamine.
Epilepsy- a neurological disorder marked by sudden recurrent episodes of sensory disturbance,
loss of consciousness, or convulsions, associated with abnormal electrical activity in the brain.
Alzheimers disease - progressive mental deterioration that can occur in middle or old age, due to
generalized degeneration of the brain. It is the most common cause of premature senility.
Cerebral Palsy- a condition marked by impaired muscle coordination (spastic paralysis) and/or
other disabilities, typically caused by damage to the brain before or at birth
Stroke- A stroke happens when blood flow to a part of the brain stops. A stroke is sometimes
called a "brain attack." If blood flow is stopped for longer than a few seconds, the brain cannot
get blood and oxygen.
Vascular Dementia- a common form of dementia caused by an impaired supply of blood to the
brain, such as may be caused by a series of small strokes.
Encephalomyelitis- inflammation of the brain and spinal cord, typically due to acute viral
infection.
Autism- a mental condition, present from early childhood, characterized by difficulty in
communicating and forming relationships with other people and in using language and abstract
concepts.