Summarizing Nervous System Disorders

Summary

Some general themes emerge from the sampling of nervous system disorders presented above. The causes for most disorders are not fully understood—at least not for all patients—and likely involve a combination of nature (genetic mutations that become risk factors) and nurture (emotional trauma, stress, hazardous chemical exposure). Because the causes have yet to be fully determined, treatment options are often lacking and only address symptoms.

Glossary

Alzheimer’s disease

neurodegenerative disorder characterized by problems with memory and thinking

attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)

neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by difficulty maintaining attention and controlling impulses

autism spectrum disorder (ASD)

neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by impaired social interaction and communication abilities

epilepsy

neurological disorder characterized by recurrent seizures

major depression

mental illness characterized by prolonged periods of sadness

neurodegenerative disorder

nervous system disorder characterized by the progressive loss of neurological functioning, usually caused by neuron death

Parkinson’s disease

neurodegenerative disorder that affects the control of movement

schizophrenia

mental disorder characterized by the inability to accurately perceive reality; patients often have difficulty thinking clearly and can suffer from delusions