Neurology Health Center

MS (multiple sclerosis) and ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) are diseases of the nerves in the body. MS and ALS common symptoms, like fatigue, difficulty walking, and slurred speech. The differences are that ALS causes symptoms like clumsiness and muscle cramps; and MS causes symptoms of vertigo, sexual dysfunction, and mood swings. There is no cure for either disease.

Read about alternative therapy for multiple sclerosis (MS) like exercise (yoga, tai chi), a balanced diet, a wide range of traditional therapies (acupuncture, herbs), medical marijuana, and CAM costs and eligibility.

What is the difference between an aneurysm and a stroke?

Ataxia is a lack of muscle coordination when a voluntary movement is attempted. There are many different types of ataxia (cerebellar, sensory, vestibular). Ataxia causes include heredity, genetic defect, or it may be acquired. Ataxia symptoms may include difficulty walking, slurring speech, fatigue, and difficulty using the hands and fingers. History and physical examination, blood tests, and CT and MRI scans may be used to help diagnose ataxia. The treatment and prognosis of ataxia depend on the underlying cause.

Autism in children and adults is a developmental disorder, characterized by impaired development in communication, social interaction, and behavior. Autism is classified as a pervasive developmental disorder (PDD), which is part of a broad spectrum of developmental disorders affecting young children and adults. There are numerous theories and studies about the cause of autism. The treatment model for autism is an educational program that is suitable to an individual's developmental level of performance. There is no "cure" for autism.

Early signs and symptoms of autism can vary amongst infants, babies, toddlers, teens, and adults that may include; no eye contact, not responding to his or her name; doesn't babble or 'baby talk'; does not use language correctly; rocking; twirling; and head banging.

Bell's palsy is one type of facial nerve paralysis. The seventh cranial nerve controls the muscles of the face, and although scientists do not know the exact cause of Bell's palsy, they think it may be due to nerve damage from an infection, for example, the flu, common cold viruses, and more serious infections like meningitis. The symptoms of Bell's palsy vary from person to person, but can include mild weakness to total paralysis, dry eye, dry mouth, eyelid drooping, drooling, mouth drooping, dry mouth, changes in taste, and excessive tearing in one eye.

A brain aneurysm (cerebral aneurysm) is caused by microscopic damage to artery walls, infections of the artery walls, tumors, trauma, and drug abuse. Symptoms include headache, numbness of the face, dilated pupils, changes in vision, the "worst headache of your life," or a painful stiff neck. Immediate treatment for a brain aneurysm is crucial for patient survival.

A brain hemorrhage is a type of stroke caused when an artery bursts in the brain, causing localized bleeding in the surrounding tissue. Causes of brain hemorrhage include aneurysm, liver disease, brain tumor, head trauma, high blood pressure, and blood vessel abnormalities. Symptoms and signs include sudden severe headache, nausea, vomiting, loss of balance, tingling, numbness, vision changes, loss of consciousness, and loss of fine motor skills. Treatment depends upon the cause, location, and size of the brain hemorrhage.

A brain lesion is defined as an area of damaged brain. Brain lesions (lesions on the brain) are caused by trauma, inflammation, autoimmune diseases, cancers, other diseases, stroke, bleeding, pituitary adenomas, and cerebral palsy. Symptoms of brain lesions include headache, nausea, fever, neck pain and stiffness, affected vision and speech, and weakness or paralysis to one side of the body. Diagnosis of brain lesions is generally accomplished with imaging studies like CT or MRI scans. Treatment and prognosis of brain lesions depends on the cause of the lesion.

Can a person with epilepsy live a normal life? What is epilepsy and what causes it? Learn the signs and symptoms of epilepsy, what causes it, how doctors diagnose it, and what you can do to treat it.

Many studies have proven that proper hydration at the time of a stroke is linked to better stroke recovery. It is possible that dehydration causes blood to be thicker. Viscous blood causes the body to retain sodium and increases blood pressure. Drinking enough water regularly prevents dehydration. This may play a role in keeping the blood less viscous, which in turn prevents a stroke.

Many people with epilepsy can enjoy satisfying orgasms. However, epilepsy and seizure disorders can have an impact on relationships and sexual health.

Damage to nerves can be severe. Because of their structure and function, nerves do not heal as quickly as some body parts do, but sometimes nerve damage can heal on its own.

Parkinson's disease cannot be reversed with diet, but dietary changes, exercise, and medications can help ease symptoms and slow the progression of the disease.

The vagus nerve is an important pathway to the brain in addition to helping to control seizures. Stimulation of the vagus nerve leads to the discharge of electrical energy into a wide area of the brain, disturbing the abnormal brain activity that causes seizures. The vagus nerve is used to treat seizures that do not respond to medications.

No, there is no such thing as being a little autistic. Many people may show some characteristics of autism from time to time. This may include avoiding bright lights and noises, preferring to be alone, and being rigid about rules. This does not make them autistic.

With timely treatment, most people can fully recover from a spinal stroke. Learn about the symptoms, complications, causes, and treatment of spinal strokes. Check out the center below for more medical references on strokes, including multimedia (slideshows, images, and quizzes), related diseases, treatment, diagnosis, medications, and prevention or wellness.

Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) may last between 14 and 30 days and you may slowly recuperate from it. Usually, recovery takes 6 to 12 months, but for some people it could take up to 3 years. GBS is rare and affects fewer than 4,000 people in the United States each year.

Brain damage can be caused either by a traumatic brain injury (TBI) or acquired brain injury (ABI). You cannot heal a damaged brain. Medical treatments can just help to stop further damage and limit the functional loss from the damage.

Joubert syndrome is a rare genetic disorder that affects the development of the brain. Learn the life expectance, inheritance pattern, symptoms, causes, diagnosis, and treatment of JS.

Aphasia impairs a person's ability to process language and speak and understand other people. Recovering from aphasia can be long and difficult for some people, but a qualified speech-language therapist can help.

Cauda equina syndrome is a medical emergency condition that is caused by the uncommon compression of the nerves at the end of the spinal cord. Symptoms of cauda equina syndrome include lower back pain, tingling and/or numbness in the buttocks and lower extremities, bowel or bladder incontinence, and weakness in the legs. Causes of cauda equina syndrome include herniated discs, hematomas, or infection. Treatment is generally prompt surgery.

Cerebral palsy (CP) is an abnormality of motor function and postural tone acquired at an early age (even before birth). Cerebral palsy is generally caused by brain trauma. Types of cerebral palsy include: spastic, dyskinetic (dystonic or choreoathetoid), hypotonic, and mixed types. There is no cure for cerebral palsy, and treatment is generally managing the symptoms of the condition.

<p>Coma is the inability to waken or react to the surrounding environment. The Glasgow Coma Scale is frequently used to measure the depth of coma. Causes of coma include trauma, bleeding, edema, lack of oxygen, poisoning, or hypoglycemia. Prognosis for a patient in a coma depends on the cause of the coma.</p>

A concussion is a short-lived loss of brain function that is due to head trauma. There are two types of concussion, simple and complex. Symptoms of a concussion include headache, nausea, dizziness, dazed feeling, irritability, and visual symptoms. Physical signs include poor concentration, emotional changes, slurred speech, and personality changes. Concussion is diagnosed with physical examination and testing. Treatment for a concussion in general includes treatment for control of the symptoms and time.

Dizziness is a symptom that often applies to a variety of sensations including lightheadedness and vertigo. Causes of dizziness include low blood pressure, heart problems, anemia, dehydration, and other medical conditions. Treatment of dizziness depends on the cause.

Dizziness is a general term used to describe a range of sensations, such as feeling faint, light-headed, weak, or unsteady. Dizziness can create a false sense of a person’s head spinning or spinning of the surroundings or swaying.

Patients who continue to have repeated episodes of dizziness need to consult with a doctor.

Generally, balance disorders last for a couple of days and the patient recovers slowly over 1 to 3 weeks. However, some patients may experience symptoms that can last for several months. For symptoms that don’t go away with other treatments, the physician might prefer surgery.

Hemifacial spasm (HFS) or facial twitching typically does not go away without treatment. Learn about symptoms, causes, and treatment options.

Hydrocephalus is a condition of the brain where there is pressure-induced deterioration of brain functions. It does not go away on its own and needs special treatment.

Scientists do not fully understand how red wine affects multiple sclerosis (MS). Learn about the potential benefits and risks of drinking wine with MS.

Encephalopathy refers to brain disease, damage, or malfunction. Learn about what causes encephalopathy as well as types, symptoms, stages, and treatment.

A seizure is a sudden, uncontrolled electrical disturbance in the brain. Epilepsy is a neurological disorder where brain activities are abnormal, causing more than one or recurrent episodes of seizures. Most cases of seizures can be managed conservatively with medication and supportive treatments.

There is a connection between epilepsy, seizures, and migraines. People with epilepsy are more likely to get migraines, especially with aura, and those with frequent migraines may have an increased risk of developing epilepsy. On occasion, a seizure may trigger a migraine. Rarely, an intense migraine aura may be followed by a seizure.

In the United States, head injuries are one of the most common causes of death and disability. Head injuries due to bleeding are generally classified by the location of the blood within the skull, these include epidural hematoma, subdural hematoma, subarachnoid bleed, intracranial bleed, sheer injury, edema, and skull fracture. Some common symptoms of a head injury include vomiting, bleeding from the ear, speech difficulties, paralysis, difficulty swallowing, and body numbness. Treatment of a head injury depends on the type and severity of the injury.

Dizziness is typically resolved by treating the underlying medical condition and by following these simple steps.

You can test yourself for memory loss using online tests that can help you detect early signs of cognitive decline. Here are 6 at home tests that evaluate your memory.

Strokes occur due to the obstruction of blood flow to the brain. Some irreversible factors, such as age and family history, are likely to increase the risk of stroke. These factors cannot be modified. However, many such preventable or modifiable factors can help prevent strokes.

Brain tumors can cause vision changes such as blurred vision, double vision, abnormal eye movements, squinting, and restricted field of vision.

Dizziness is a feeling of lightheadedness, fainting or a mild feeling of imbalance. Vertigo is the feeling that the stationary things around you are moving. Most dizzy spells are not serious.

<p>Sciatica or sciatic nerve pain is centered on the lower back, and the cause is usually from a ruptured disc in the spinal column that irritates or inflames the nerve.</p>

Face blindness, also called prosopagnosia, is a condition in which you have difficulty or an inability in recognizing faces. Learn the signs and symptoms of face blindness, as well as the causes and potential treatment.

Treatment for facial tingling depends on the underlying cause of the condition. Check out the center below for more medical references on muscle spasms, including multimedia (slideshows, images, and quizzes), related disease conditions, treatment and diagnosis, medications, and prevention or wellness.

Several techniques can help you tone your vagus nerve, such as meditating, exercising, laughing, and more. Check out the center below for more medical references on genetic conditions, including multimedia (slideshows, images, and quizzes), related disease conditions, treatment and diagnosis, medications, and prevention or wellness.

The canalith repositioning procedure can help relieve benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV). BPPV is a condition in which a patient has brief, yet intense, episodes of dizziness and vertigo that occur when they move their head.

Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) disease is a congenital condition, which is a series of hereditary illnesses caused by a genetic fault that is inherited from one or both of a child’s parents.

Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) is an extremely rare degenerative brain disorder that is rapidly progressive, and usually, it leads to fatal complications and death within a year of onset of illness.

Although the exact cause of Guillain-Barre syndrome is not clearly known, many patients develop the condition after an infection (such as COVID-19). Additionally, men are more likely to get GBS than women.

There are a few causes of pressure in your brain including aneurysm, head or brain injury, excess cerebrospinal fluid, brain tumor, hydrocephalus, bleeding in the brain, blood clot in the brain, tumors in the brain, high blood pressure, meningitis and encephalitis, and stroke.

<p>Restless Leg Syndrome is an often uncontrollable urge to twitch and move your legs – especially when sitting or lying down. It isn’t curable and the cause is unclear, but it’s a neurological problem that researchers theorize may result from a lack of iron in the brain or a physiological in processing and using iron.</p>

Dizziness and similar complications happen because of things that happen in your inner ear. You know if your inner ear is causing dizziness because when you have it, moving your head in any way causes immediate vertigo – the sensation that your physical surroundings are spinning.

When a dementia patient is close to dying, you may notice signs such as agitation, restlessness, moaning, and changes in breathing.

Signs that a patient with Alzheimer's disease is close to the end of their life include restlessness, inability to speak or swallow, and breathing changes.

Lou Gehrig's disease is a progressive and degenerative neurological disease. The cause of Lou Gehrig's disease may be genetics, environmental factors, autoimmunity, or other unknown reasons.

Tardive dyskinesia (TD) is mainly diagnosed based on characteristic signs and symptoms and medical history.

ALS is a motor neuron (nerve cell) disease also commonly known as Lou Gehrig's disease. How long you can live with ALS (Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) may depend on the cause of the condition.

Altitude sickness usually resolves by itself within six to 48 hours. All the symptoms should subside completely within three days.

On average, a person with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) may live for about two to five years from the time of diagnosis.

What is muscular dystrophy? Learn the signs of muscular dystrophy, what causes it, how doctors diagnose it, and how to treat it.

Pick’s disease typically causes death within 8 to 10 years due to severe infection. Check out the center below for more medical references on degenerative diseases, including multimedia (slideshows, images, and quizzes), related disease conditions, treatment and diagnosis, medications, and prevention or wellness.

Primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS) is not considered fatal, but complications can reduce life expectancy by about 7-8 years.

Stiff person syndrome (SPS) is considered dangerous in babies because they generally meet unfortunate and untimely death within a few months. The normal lifespan of a grown adult can be stated as 50 years (if symptoms start early). Patients typically present with initial symptoms between 40 and 60 years, although the onset has been reported in patients who are younger than 40 years and older than 60 years.

Thunderclap headache is an extremely painful headache that begins suddenly and peaks with intensity within seconds. These headaches can last for at least 5 minutes.

While it is difficult to predict how long the final stage of dementia will last, most patients survive for one to three years.

While most meningiomas are benign and grow slowly, they can become serious if they grow large enough to press on nearby tissues, nerves, or vessels in the brain.

Tardive dyskinesia symptoms can make it difficult to carry out daily physical tasks, lowering one's quality of life.

The banana spider is also known as the calico spider, golden silk spider, giant wood spider, Brazilian wandering spider or armed spider. Banana spiders do bite humans and they are poisonous.

Cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy (CADASIL) is a genetic disorder that affects the small arteries in the brain, leading to stroke-like episodes, cognitive decline, and other symptoms. It can be life-threatening in some cases, but symptoms, severity, and progression of the disease varies. The exact mortality rate for people with CADASIL is not known, but a person with CADASIL on average lives for 61 years.

Essential tremor is a progressive disorder involving the brain and nerves that is characterized by uncontrolled, rhythmic trembling of the various body parts. It may involve the hands, head, voice, legs, or trunk. The intensity of the trembling can vary from mild to very significant.

Chiari malformation symptoms include vomiting, muscle weakness in the head and face, difficulty swallowing, varying degrees of mental impairment, headache, neck pain, progressive scoliosis (curvature of the spine), difficulty with balance and coordination, and others. It can be life threatening if it affects the mouth and throat.

Multiple sclerosis, or MS, is a degenerative disease of the covering around the nerves in the central nervous system (CNS). Symptoms and signs of MS include vision changes, paralysis, vertigo, heat intolerance, slurred speech, sexual dysfunction, and urinary incontinence (the inability to urinate).

An autoimmune mechanism is suspected for Parry-Romberg Syndrome (PRS), however, other research also links infectious diseases to the syndrome.

People with PPMS have a worse prognosis than those with other kinds of MS due to uncertain pathophysiology and a progressive disease course.

Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a debilitating disease that affects both the central and peripheral nervous systems and is classified as a disability when the symptoms are severe enough. Check out the center below for more medical references on disabilities, including multimedia (slideshows, images, and quizzes), related disease conditions, treatment and diagnosis, medications, and prevention or wellness.

Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a type of genetic condition that affects the nerve cells regulating the muscles that help move around (motor neurons), resulting in weakness and wasting (atrophy) of these muscles.

Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a type of motor neuron disease that is hereditary. Treatment of spinal muscular atrophy includes prescription medication, suctioning mucus from the throat, external oxygen support and breathing exercises.

While spinal stenosis is not a serious condition in the initial stages, it can lead to serious and permanent damage if it becomes advanced or remains untreated.

Tardive dyskinesia is a movement disorder caused by certain kinds of medication, including some antipsychotics and antidepressants. Tardive dyskinesia is brain damage in the sense that it’s likely caused by permanent alterations to your brain's biochemistry.

There is no cure for adhesive arachnoiditis. However, symptoms can be managed with various treatment options, and the person can lead a good quality of life.

If you suspect that a loved one is suffering from memory, thinking, or judgment problems, you may consider getting them to take an online version of the SAGE test.

<p>Are left brain vs. right brain theories myth or fact? They actually are a little of both! Scientists and researchers have tried to answer this question since the 1800s. In the 1960s, neuroscientist Roger Sperry began to research the right brain vs. left brain theory. In 1981, together with neuroscientist Torsten Wiesel, he won the won the Nobel Prize for his &quot;split-brain&quot; theory. In the split-brain theory, the left and right sides of the brain are connected by the corpus callosum (where place each side of the brain meets and sends signals and communicates with other), and that both the left and right sides of the brain have specific functions.<br /><br /> <p>What is an example of right-brain vs. left brain theory? Scientists now know that for <i><b>most</b></i> people who are right-handed, the language center of their brain is located in the Broca are of the left side of the brain. Moreover, research suggests that that emotions and creativity are located in the right-side of the brain. The medical field calls this &quot;brain lateralization.&quot; While researchers and scientists don&#39;t fully understand the functions of the right-and -left sides of the brain or hemispheres, but through ongoing research there are endless possibilities in learning how the brain functions.<br><br>REFERENCE: Corballis, MC. &quot;Left Brain, Right Brain: Facts and Fantasies.&quot; PLoS Biol. 2014 Jan; 12(1): e1001767.</p>

<p>Locked-in syndrome is a condition that causes paralysis and the inability to speak or move the face. A hemorrhage and blood clot are the main causes of locked-in syndrome, although other causes may be to blame. Treatment of the condition consists of supportive care and use of eye movements to communicate to improve quality of life. Patients who have locked-in syndrome recover in rare cases. </p>

MELAS syndrome, a rare form of dementia, stands for Mitochondrial Encephalopathy, Lactic Acidosis, and Stroke-like episodes. Mutations in the genetic material (DNA) in the mitochondria cause MELAS syndrome.

Meralgia paresthetica is an entrapment or "pinching" of the nerve (lateral femoral cutaneous nerve) that supplies sensation to the outer portion of the thigh. Pressure on the nerve can result in burning, pain, and numbness on the outer or front part of the thigh. Treatment usually involves addressing the underlying cause but can also be treated by local cortisone injection and in rare cases surgical release of the nerve.

Migraine is a type of headache that causes severe pain on one side of the head. A stroke is a condition that occurs when a blood vessel in the brain is blocked (ischemic), leaks, or bursts (hemorrhagic). In addition to severe head pain, migraine can mimic and have the same symptoms of a stroke.

Migraine headache pain and headache pain are similar in the severity (mild, moderate, or severe), but differ in the type of pain. Migraine pain can be throbbing, sensitive to light or sound, and worsens with physical activity. Most headaches can be treated with OTC medication and home remedies, while migraines often require prescription medication.

Motion sickness is a feeling of unwellness caused by the inner ear and balance systems. Motion sickness can include sea sickness, car sickness, and train or plane sickness. Symptoms include, headache, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, dizziness, cold sweats, and pale skin. Treatment for motion sickness includes home remedies such as ginger, avoiding large or fatty meals prior to traveling, and OTC and prescription medications.

Moyamoya disease is an inherited (genetic) progressive cerebrovascular disorder caused by arteries that are blocked at the base of the brain. Moyamoya means 'puff of smoke' in Japanese. Symptoms of Moyamoya disease in adults include fainting, and vision problems, and in children included may include headaches and speech problems. There are six stages of Moyamoya disease.

Multiple sclerosis or MS is an autoimmune disorder in which brain and spinal cord nerve cells become demyelinated. This damage results in symptoms that may include numbness, weakness, vertigo, paralysis, and involuntary muscle contractions. Different forms of MS can follow variable courses from relatively benign to life-threatening. MS is treated with disease-modifying therapies. Some MS symptoms can be treated with medications.

Multiple sclerosis or MS is a CNS disease in which the immune system attacks the myelin sheath. MS does not affect the ability to conceive, and does not seem to affect fertility. Symptoms during pregnancy may stay the same or get better; however, they may worsen after delivery. Moreover, pregnancy decreases the number of relapses, but flares increase in the first 3-6 months after giving birth.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory process involving different areas of the CNS in which the myelin sheath that covers the nerves is destroyed. Early warning signs and symptoms of MS in children, teens, and adults are similar; however, children and teens may have seizures and a complete lack of energy. Adults with MS do not have these signs and symptoms.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) symptoms vary from person to person and can last for days to months without periods of remission. Symptoms of MS include sexual problems and problems with the bowel, bladder, eyes, muscles, speech, swallowing, brain, and nervous system. The early symptoms and signs of multiple sclerosis usually start between ages 20-40. MS in children, teens, and those over age 40 is rare. Treatment options for multiple sclerosis vary depending on the type and severity of symptoms. Medications may be prescribed to manage MS symptoms.

Neuropathic pain is a chronic condition that leads to ongoing pain symptoms. Patients can be predisposed to developing neuropathic pain who have conditions such as diabetes, cancer, stroke, HIV, vitamin deficiencies, shingles, and multiple sclerosis. Patient history and nerve testing are used to diagnose neuropathic pain. Antidepressants, antiseizure medications, and other types of medications are used to treat neuropathic pain. Many people with neuropathic pain are able to attain some level of relief.

Occipital neuralgia is a type of headache that involves inflammation or irritation of occipital nerves. Signs and symptoms include a stabbing and throbbing head pain, and an aching pain in the upper back of the head and neck. Potential causes include infection, irritation, or trauma of the occipital nerves.

Parkinson's disease is a slowly progressive neurological disease characterized by a fixed inexpressive face, a tremor at rest, slowing of voluntary movements, a gait with short accelerating steps, peculiar posture and muscle weakness, caused by degeneration of an area of the brain called the basal ganglia, and by low production of the neurotransmitter dopamine. Most patients are over 50, but at least 10 percent are under 40.

Eating a well-balanced and nutritional diet is very beneficial to people with Parkinson's disease. With a proper diet, our bodies work more efficiently and it is especially helpful because Parkinson's disease medications will work properly.

Periodic paralysis syndrome comprises several types of rare muscle diseases in which a person experiences temporary muscle paralysis of one area of the body, or the entire body for a few minutes or days. The person regains normal muscle strength between periods of muscle weakness. You inherit the syndrome from your biological mother or father, or from a mutation in your genes. This gene mutation determines the type of periodic paralysis you have. The other symptoms depend upon the type of periodic paralysis you have.

Peripheral neuropathy occurs when peripheral nerves become damaged. Peripheral neuropathy causes include diabetes, shingles, vitamin deficiency, and alcohol use. Learn about the four types of peripheral neuropathy.