Neurological disorder

Neurologic disorders encompass areas that cover, among other things, hereditary and congenital pathologies, demyelinating and degenerative disorders, infections, and neoplasms. Major neurological conditions include the following: headache disorders such as migraine, cluster headache and tension headache (the most common) ; epilepsy and seizure disorders; neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Lou Gehrig's disease and ataxia; cerebrovascular diseases such as transient ischemic attacks (TIA) and cerebrovascular accidents (CVA) also known as strokes or brain attack which is either ischemic or hemorrhagic in nature; sleep disorders (insomnia); cerebral palsy (CP), a non-progressive disorder of voluntary and posture control; CNS infections such as encephalitis, meningitis and peripheral neuritis; brain abscess; herpetic meningoencephalitis, aspergilloma and cerebral hydatic cyst ; PNS infections , such as tetanus and botulism; neoplasms such as glioblastoma multiforme which is the most malignant brain tumor, spinal cord tumors, peripheral nerves tumor (acoustic neuroma); movement disorders such as Parkinson's disease, chorea, hemiballismus, tic disorder, and Gilles de la Tourette syndrome; CNS demyelinating disease such as multiple sclerosis, and of the peripheral nervous system, such as Guillain-Barr� syndrome (GBS) and chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) ; spinal cord disorders e.g. tumors, infections, trauma, malformations such as myelocele, meningomyelocele, myelomeningocele; peripheral nerve disorders like Bell palsy (CN VII) and carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) involving the median nerve, myopathy and neuromuscular junctions problem (e.g. myasthenia gravis); traumatic injuries to the brain, spinal cord and peripheral nerves ; altered mental status, encephalopathy, stupor and coma ; lastly, any speech and language disorders (expressive or receptive aphasia).

A complete neurological examination entails the neurologist to first review the patient's medical history with special focus to the present condition prior to a neurological exam. Generally, the exam tests cranial nerves, level of consciousness, motor strength, coordination, deep tendon reflexes and sensation. Additional mental status examination may be needed to assess cognitive function in psychiatric, geriatric and even in a healthy aged patient to uncover early signs of dementia. Findings of the neurologic exam help the neurologist determine if the problem is indeed in the nervous system. Further tests like the lumbar puncture also known as spinal tap may be needed to confirm a diagnosis or find a specific treatment.