Neurological Disorders
Introduction[edit | edit source]
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), neurological disorders are any diseases affecting the entirety of the nervous system (i.e. the central and peripheral nervous systems)[1]. These will be conditions involving the brain, spinal cord, cranial nerves, peripheral nerves, nerve roots, autonomic nervous system, neuromuscular junction and muscles[1].
Categories of Neurological Disorders[edit | edit source]
Neurological disorders can be classified based on their affectation of the Central Nervous System (CNS) or the Peripheral Nervous System (PNS). It is worthy to note that disorders of the nervous system can affect both adults and children.
Disorders of the CNS[edit | edit source]
Neurological conditions affecting the CNS include:
- Alzheimer's Disease: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a degenerative disease of the CNS that is characterized by damage to areas of the brain that are responsible for thinking, learning and memory i.e cognition[2]. This is largely due to the accumulation of certain proteins- beta-amyloid plaques and tau tangles within the brain[2]. The role of physiotherapy in providing regular exercise to prevent cognitive decline in patients with AD is largely supported by evidence[3]. It achieves this largely due to factors such as neurogenesis and anti-inflamatory effects that help lower the pathophysiological hallmarks of the disease[3].
- Multiple System Atrophy
- Rett Syndrome
- Traumatic Brain Injury
- Stroke
- Parkinson's Disease
- Migraine
- Cerebral Palsy
- Dementia
- Spinal Cord Injury
- Multiple Sclerosis
Disorders of the PNS[edit | edit source]
Conditions affecting the PNS are as follows:
- Sciatic Nerve Injury
- Erb's Palsy
- Bell's Palsy
- Diabetic Neuropathy
- Guillain-Barre Syndrome
- Alcoholic Neuropathy
- HIV Neuropathy
- Myopathy
- Myasthenia Gravis
- Cauda Equina Syndrome
- Radiculopathy
Relevance to the Neurophysiotherapist[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 World Health Organisation. What are neurological disorders? Available from: https://www.who.int/news-room/q-a-detail/what-are-neurological-disorders# (accessed 22 September, 2020).
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Alzheimer'Association. Alzheimer's Disease Facts and Figures. Alzheimer's and Dementia; 2019 15:321-387
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Pedro LV, Adrián CG, Javier SM, Pedro DLV, Harald H, Enzo E, Simone L and Alejandro L. Exercise benefits on Alzheimer's disease. Ageing Research Reviews 2020: 62
- ↑ Matthew B. Jensen. Central Neurological Disorders. Available from: https://www.youtu.be/CqbkInUFqBo [last accessed 23/9/2020]
- ↑ Matthew B. Jensen. Peripheral Neurological Disorders. Available from : https://www.youtu.be/xh3xQ8Fk1-o [last accessed 23/9/2020]