Alien Hand Syndrome, also known as anarchic hand or Dr. Strangelove syndrome, is a disorder in which one hand appears to take on a mind of its own. Alien hand syndrome can be a side-effect of surgery to separate the two hemispheres of the brain to relieve the symptoms of extreme cases of epilepsy, and can also occur after other brain surgery, strokes, or infections.

Alternating Hemiplegia of Childhood (AHC) is a rare neurological disorder characterized by frequent, temporary episodes of paralysis on one side of the body (hemiplegia).

Alzheimer's disease is a type of dementia that usually affects older adults. It is characterized by memory loss that worsens over time and the loss of the ability to perform daily tasks;it is ultimately fatal. Some other illnesses can mimic symptoms of Alzheimer's disease.

Motor neuron disease, also known as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) or Lou Gehrig's disease, is a progressive disease that attacks motor neurons, components of the nervous system that connect the brain with the skeletal muscles. Skeletal muscles are the muscles involved with voluntary movement, like walking and talking. When your brain sends a signal telling a part of your body to move, the motor neurons transmit the command to the skeletal muscles. The muscles respond by contracting.

In ALS, the motor neurons deteriorate and eventually die, and though a person's brain is fully functioning and alert, the command to move never reaches the muscle. The patient may want to reach for a glass of water, for example, but is not able to do it because the lines of communication from the brain to the arm and hand muscles have been destroyed. The muscles eventually waste away from disuse, and a person in the late stages of Lou Gehrig's disease is completely paralyzed. Currently, there is no cure for ALS, although drug therapy can slow progression of the disease.

Broadly speaking, the word "ataxia" simply means unsteadiness and clumsiness, and has been given to the condition because those are usually the earliest symptoms. As the disorder progresses, people with ataxia usually lose the ability to walk, and can become totally disabled, having to depend on others for their care. This is because ataxia destroys both nerve and muscle cells. Vision (and in some cases hearing) and speech may also be affected.

A portion of the nervous system that acts "automatically" in the maintenance of blood pressure, heart rate, bowel and bladder function.

This category is for informational sites about disorders affecting balance.
The labyrinth in the inner ear is the main organ of balance and interacts with other systems in the body, such as the visual and skeletal systems, to maintain the body's position. These systems, along with the brain and the nervous system, can be the source of balance problems.

Diseases of the brain.

Cerebral Palsy is a term used to describe a group of chronic conditions affecting body movements and muscle coordination. It is caused by damage to the brain, usually occurring during fetal development, or during infancy. It can also occur before, during or shortly following birth. Cerebral Palsy is neither progressive (it doesn't get worse with time), nor communicable (you can't "catch it"). It is one of the most common disabling conditions of childhood. There are 4 types of Cerebral Palsy: Spastic Cerebral Palsy characterized by stiff and difficult movement; Athetoid Cerebral Palsy characterized by involuntary and uncontrolled movement; Ataxic Cerebral Palsy characterized by a disturbed sense of balance and depth perception; and Mixed Cerebral Palsy.

Mental retardation; nervous system abnormalities; and other diseases of the nervous system associated with defects in the structure or number of chromosomes.

A number of neurologic conditions, such as stroke, neuropathies and disc disease, can result in chronic pain. This category is set aside for chronic pain related of neurologic origin.

A rare genetic disorder characterized by craniofacial (head and facial) and skeletal abnormalities, mental retardation, short stature, and hypotonia.

This category includes all developmental malformations of the nervous system - neural tube defects like Arnold-Chiari Malformation, Meningocele, Spina Bifida etc; Dandy Walker Syndrome; vascular malformations; Holoprosencephaly; Hydranencephaly; etc.

An etiologically nonspecific syndrome characterized by concurrent disturbances of consciousness and attention, perception, thinking, memory, psychomotor behaviour, emotion, and the sleep-wake cycle. It may occur at any age but is most common after the age of 60 years. The delirious state is transient and of fluctuating intensity; most cases recover within 4 weeks or less. However, delirium lasting, with fluctuations, for up to 6 months is not uncommon, especially when arising in the course of chronic liver disease, carcinoma, or subacute bacterial endocarditis. The distinction that is sometimes made between acute and subacute delirium is of little clinical relevance; the condition should be seen as a unitary syndrome of variable duration and severity ranging from mild to very severe. A delirious state may be superimposed on, or progress into, dementia.

Dementia describes a gradual decrease in cognitive abilities from a once-normal state over a period of time. This category is for sites about the dementias of old age and geriatics. Alzheimer's is one type of dementia.

This category includes those diseases which predominantly affect the myelin (the structure that coats nerves). Examples include the leukodystrophies (in which the myelin in the brain is affected), demyelinating neuropathies (in which the myelin of peripheral nerves is affected) and multiple sclerosis.

A dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system (ANS). There are many types of dysautonomia. Some of the disorders are Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS), Neurocardiogenic Syncope, Mitral Valve Prolapse Dysautonomia, Pure Autonomic Failure and Multiple System Atrophy (Shy-Drager Syndrome).

Epilepsy is a physical disorder, not a mental problem. There are several different types of epilepsy, ranging from petit mal (absence) a mild form of epilepsy, to grand mal (tonic-clonic) epilepsy which results in seizures, also known as convulsions. Seizures are due to electrical discharges in the brain. Epilepsy is usually controlled with medication. Epileptics have normal intelligence.

Headache, Migraine and Tension Headache Resources

Hydrocephalus comes from the Greek: hydro means water, cephalus means head. Hydrocephalus is an abnormal accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) within cavities called ventricles inside the brain. CSF is produced in the ventricles, circulates through the ventricular system, and is absorbed into the bloodstream. CSF is in constant circulation and has many important functions. It surrounds the brain and spinal cord and acts as a protective cushion against injury. CSF contains nutrients and proteins necessary for the nourishment and normal function of the brain. It carries waste products away from surrounding tissues. Hydrocephalus occurs when there is an imbalance between the amount of CSF that is produced and the rate at which it is absorbed. As CSF builds up, it causes the ventricles to enlarge, and the pressure inside the head to increase.

Also known as Startle Disease, this extrapyramidal and movement disorder causes children to freeze when startled, sometimes even slightly. It can be confused with some forms of epilepsy.

This category is for all kinds of infections of the brain, spinal cord and peripheral nerves. Meningitis, encephalitis and abscesses caused by bacterial, viral, fungal, parasitic and other agents are to be listed here. Prion diseases should also be listed here.

Inflammation of the coverings of the brain and/or spinal cord.

This category includes neurological disorders that are characterized by problems of movements like tremor, tics, chorea, dystonia, ballismus etc.

This category includes disorders affecting muscles - myopathies, myositis, fibromyalgia, myotonias, perioidic paralyses, etc.

This category is for all types of benign tumors that affect the brain, meninges (coverings of the brain), spinal cord and nerves. Malignant brain tumors are found at Health: Conditions and Diseases: Cancer: Brain Tumors.

This category includes those diseases that affect both the nervous system (brain, spinal cord or nerves) and the skin. Examples include Neurofibromatoses, Hippel-Lindau Disease, Sturge-Weber Syndrome, Ataxia Telangiectasia, Tuberous Sclerosis, etc.

This category includes those diseases which are caused by degeneration (the reason for the degeneration is often unknown) of some part of the brain, spinal cord or nerves. Some of the neurological diseases that do not fit into other categories may be better off here.

This category is for various symptoms and complaints that are usually caused by a neurological problem. For example, dizziness, headache, paralysis, seizures, pain, ataxia or gait problems, etc.

This category includes neurological diseases that are caused by toxins, poisons or overdoses of medications. Examples include heavy metal poisoning, botulism, etc.

Nodding Syndrome is an unexplained neurological syndrome seen mostly in South Sudan and Uganda. Certains triggers, including temperature and food, cause weakness in neck muscles, and the resultant nodding.

Disorders that feature impairment of eye movements as a primary manifestation of disease.

One of the most mysterious and complex neurological disorders to afflict mankind, Parkinson's disease was first described in 1817 by British physician James Parkinson, who identified its major symptoms and called it "the shaking palsy." Research progressed slowly until the early 1960s, when scientific discoveries linked the disease to the loss of brain cells that produce dopamine - a chemical which helps control muscle activity. This in turn led to the first successful treatment for Parkinson's and pointed researchers in the direction of other therapies. Unlike many other afflictions that manifest themselves later in life, Parkinson's disease is neither contagious nor, in most cases, inherited. A chronic, progressive, motor system disorder, it has four primary symptoms: tremors or shaking of the hands, arms, legs, jaw and face; stiffness or rigidity of the limbs and trunk; excessive slowness of movement, a condition called bradykinesia; and instability, poor balance and loss of coordination. These symptoms become more pronounced as the disease progresses, and patients ultimately experience difficulty with such simple tasks as walking and speaking. The disease is one of a group of similar disorders called parkinsonism, all of which are related to the loss of dopamine-producing cells in the brain. The most common of these, Parkinson's disease is also known as primary parkinsonism or idiopathic Parkinson's disease, because it has no known cause. The other forms of parkinsonism either have known or suspected causes, or occur as secondary symptoms of other neurological disorders.

This category includes disorders affecting the peripheral nerves like the various neuropathies, plexus disorders etc. Disorders of the cranial nerves can be included here for the moment; ideally a separate category (Cranial Nerve Diseases) will house them in the future.

Porencephaly is an extremely rare disorder of the central nervous system involving cysts or cavities in a cerebral hemisphere.

Pathologic conditions which feature spinal cord damage or dysfunction, including disorders involving the meninges and perimeningeal spaces surrounding the spinal cord. Traumatic injuries, vascular diseases, infections, and inflammatory/autoimmune processes may affect the spinal cord.

A stroke is a sudden interruption of blood flow to a region of the brain, due either to a blockage in, or the bursting of, one of the vessels supplying that region. The interruption of blood flow leads to the injury and death of brain cells, and can thus result in paralysis, cognitive impairment, and other significant disabilities. Today, early interventions are available to reduce the likelihood of such disabilities after a stroke. Know the signs of stroke so that you can seek medical help immediately . . . . SIGNS OF STROKE * Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm, or leg. * Sudden confusion, difficulty speaking or understanding. * Sudden and severe headache, without a known cause. * Sudden dizziness, loss of steadiness or coordination. * Sudden nausea and vomiting, unrelated to viral illness. * An episode of unconsciousness or convulsions.

An organized network of people with something in common who give and receive help, advice, friendship and emotional support.

Sydenham's Chorea is a disorder that primarily affects children. It is associated with Rheumatic Fever, which is caused by a streptococcus group A bacteria. The disease causes emotional instability, purposeless movements, and muscular weakness. It is also know as St. Vitus' Dance.

Tourette syndrome (TS) is an inherited disorder of the nervous system characterized by repeated involuntary movements and uncontrollable vocal (phonic) sounds called tics. In a few patients, such tics can include inappropriate words and phrases.

The disorder is named for Dr. Georges Gilles de la Tourette, a French neurologist who first described an 86-year-old French noblewoman with the condition in 1885. The symptoms of TS generally appear before the individual is 18 years old (some authorities say before 15 years of age).

Source: MedicineNet, Inc.

This category includes injuries to the head, skull, brain, spinal cord and nerves.