The 18 most common Nervous System diseases

The Nervous System (SN) is a system made up of different structures, such as the brain and spinal cord, which has the function of regulating and supervising all the activities that the body performs. Sometimes, however, the NS is altered by certain diseases or injuries.

In this article we will know the 18 most common Nervous System diseases: we will explain the characteristics of each of them and their most frequent symptoms.

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Nervous System: definition, structures and divisions

The nervious system it is a mechanism of integration and control of the organism, which regulates and supervises all the activities that it carries out. This system receives and transmits information. Structurally it is divided into two: Central Nervous System (CNS) and Peripheral Nervous System (PNS).

The CNS is made up of the brain and spinal cord, and the PNS is made up of two divisions: the System Somatic Nervous System (cranial and spinal nerves) and the Autonomic Nervous System (which controls functions vital).

The Nervous System is of great importance for the correct functioning of the body at a motor, sensitive, physical, sensory level ...

The 18 most common Nervous System diseases

When the functioning or structure of the Nervous System is altered for any reason, diseases appear that can significantly limit people's lives. In this article we will see the 18 most common Nervous System diseases, which are the following:

1. Sclerosis

Sclerosis is a disease of the nervous system that can be of two types: multiple sclerosis or Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (THE A). Let's see the characteristics of each one:

1.1. Multiple sclerosis

It is a degenerative and chronic disease. Its origin is autoimmune, and it occurs when the axons of the cells of the nervous system (neurons) they progressively lose myelin; Myelin is the substance that covers the axons, whose function is to transmit electrical impulses through the nervous system, quickly and efficiently.

The symptoms most characteristic of multiple sclerosis are: pain, fatigue, weakness, perceptual alterations and muscular tension.

1.2. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)

ALS it is also progressive and neurodegenerative. In this case, the motor neurons of the brain and spinal cord are altered and progressively deteriorate. As a consequence, the muscles of the body cannot receive nerve impulses, which makes voluntary movement difficult and impossible.

People they tend to stay in a wheelchair, bedridden, and eventually die, as the heart and breathing stop working.

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2. Epilepsy

Epilepsy involves the recurrence of seizures (More than one must appear to be diagnosed). Its origin is due to an overactivation of certain groups of neurons. The most typical symptoms of epilepsy are: seizures, loss of consciousness, weakness, muscle loss, etc.

3. Headaches

Headaches are severe headaches. They can be of different types:

3.1. Tension headaches

They are the most common. In this case the pain resembles a band or a helmet that squeezes the entire head.

3.2. Cluster headache

The pain in this case appears in only one eye; "Inside" him and around him.

3.3. Migraine

It is also a common headache; Its symptoms include, in addition to the headache: nausea and visual changes or disturbances.

3.4. Sinus headache

Here the pain is located behind the forehead and / or cheekbones.

4. Cerebrovascular diseases

The cerebrovascular diseases par excellence are cerebrovascular accidents (CVA), which occur when blood flow to a part of the brain stops. This produces a deficit or lack of oxygen and nutrients in some areas of the brain. The consequence is temporary or permanent brain damage, depending on the severity of the injury.

5. Dementias

Dementia involves a severe impairment of cognitive functions, such as memory, reasoning, attention, intellectual capacity, etc.

It usually appears in an advanced age (from 65 years), and interferes significantly in the life of the person, since when the dementia is in an advanced stage, the patient is no longer autonomous for his life activities daily. The most common cause of amnesia is Alzheimer's disease.

6. Cloistered syndrome

The locked-in syndrome is another nervous system disease, although less common, but very serious. The person with this syndrome cannot move any part of the body (at most the eyes and / or the mouth), being completely paralyzed.

It is as if it is enclosed in her own body. It is caused by a lesion in the brainstem (for example a heart attack), in the area of ​​the pons.

7. Mononeuropathies

Another of the diseases of the Nervous System are mononeuropathies, which involve damage to a single nerve of the NS. The symptoms that they imply are loss of movement and / or sensation, mainly. The effects will depend on the nerve that is affected.

8. Polyneuropathies

Polyneuropathies, on the other hand, are diseases produced by involvement of various peripheral nerves, which is usually symmetrical. This affectation usually occurs simultaneously on the four extremities of the body.

9. Guillain Barre syndrome

Guillain-Barré Syndrome is a serious disease of autoimmune origin, which occurs because the immune system attacks a part of the nervous system. As a result, the nerves become inflamed, resulting in muscle weakness and / or paralysis.

10. Neuralgia

Neuralgias are a type of pain, which usually affects the nerves of the face, skull, or neck. It is produced by an infection, irritation or compression of these nerves. It is one of the most common nervous system diseases. It differs from headaches because in this case the pain appears in the face, and not in the head.

11. Tumors

The tumors are excessive and uncontrolled proliferation of cells somewhere in the body. In this case, we are talking about the brain and the spinal cord. Some examples of SN tumors are medulloblastomas, astrocytomas, glioblastomas, etc.

12. Infections

When infections appear in the nervous system we also consider them diseases of the same; these affect neurons and SN structures. For example, HIV and syphilis, if left untreated, can end up damaging neurons and even causing neuronal death.

13. Trauma

Trauma, though they are not considered diseases themselvesThey can also end up damaging neurons and nerves in the NS. They are due to the presence of strong blows. We speak, for example, of head injuries (TBI) that affect the brain, and spinal cord injuries, that affect the spinal cord.

The symptoms of TBI can vary, and cause alterations in consciousness, memory, movement, personality, etc. Spinal cord injuries produce paralysis of the extremities (lower and / or upper) below the injury, in addition to other symptoms. They are produced by a sectioning or rupture of the nerves of the spinal cord.

14. Autonomic dysreflexia

This sickness appears as a result of a spinal cord injury. In addition, the autonomic nervous system becomes overactive, and blood pressure rises. This is a consequence of the difficulties in regulating blood pressure below the spinal cord injury.

Bibliographic references

• MedlinePlus. (2019). Guillain Barre syndrome.

• Netter, F. (1989). Nervous system. Anatomy and physiology. Barcelona: Salvat.

• WHO (2000). ICD-10. International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Edition. Madrid. Pan American.

• Rowland, L. (1995). (Ed.) Merritt'’s Textbook of Neurology. Lea & Febiger.