Alzheimer’s disease

Alzheimer’s disease is a type of dementia that affects a person’s thinking, behaviour and ability to perform everyday tasks.
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Alzheimer’s disease is associated with a build-up of certain proteins and chemicals in the brain, which leads to dementia symptoms that worsen over time.
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While Alzheimer’s disease is more common in older Australians, it is not a normal part of ageing.
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There is no cure for Alzheimer’s disease, but some medications and the learning of new behaviours can help relieve symptoms and improve quality of life.
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See a doctor for a full assessment if you or someone you care about experiences memory loss, difficulty with familiar tasks or language, or changes in mood or personality.
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Bell’s Palsy

What Is Bell's Palsy?

Bell's palsy is also known as “acute facial palsy of unknown cause.” It’s a condition in which the muscles on one side of
your face become weak or paralyzed. It affects only one side of the face at a time, causing it to droop or become stiff on
that side.

It’s caused by some kind of trauma to the seventh cranial nerve. This is also called the “facial nerve.” Bell’s palsy can
happen to anyone. But it seems to occur more often in people who have diabetes or are recovering from viral infections.

Most of the time, symptoms are only temporary

Cerebral palsy

Cerebral palsy is a condition that affects body movements due to brain injury. The injury can happen
before, during or after birth and does not get worse over time.

The brain damage affects body movement and posture. It often shows up as either floppy or stiff
muscles, or involuntary muscle movements.

Cerebral palsy can affect movement, coordination, muscle tone and posture. It can also be
associated with impaired vision, hearing, speech, eating and learning.

The damage to the brain is permanent. There is no cure. Life expectancy is normal or near normal in
mild cerebral palsy, but the effects of cerebral palsy can cause stress to the body and premature
ageing.

Epilepsy

Epilepsy is a long-term brain condition where a person has repeated seizures. It is thought to affect
about 3 in every 100 Australians.

Having just one seizure is not considered to be epilepsy — about half the people who have one
seizure never have another seizure. Other conditions such as fever, diabetes, heart conditions and
alcohol withdrawal can also cause seizures.

Epilepsy is not one single condition; rather it is a range of different conditions that can cause
seizures.
If you witness a seizure, you can go to Epilepsy Australia's seizure first aid resources. Seizures
usually last 1 to 3 minutes. If someone has a seizure that lasts for more than 5 minutes, call an
ambulance on triple zero (000).

Neurofibromatosis

What is neurofibromatosis?
Neurofibromatosis is a genetic condition characterised by the growth of neurofibromas.
These are a type of tumour that is usually benign, or non-cancerous, although in rare cases
they can be cancerous. These neurofibromas can form wherever there are nerve cells in
the body.

Neurofibromatosis is not curable, but it is manageable and many people with the condition
lead normal lives.