HomeHealth TopicsBrain NervesNeurologic Diseases
Back to Brain Nerves
Neurologic Diseases
Reviewed by Medicinsk Expert•Last updated: 2026-10-22•Brain Nerves

Neurologic Diseases

Neurologic diseases encompass over 600 conditions affecting the nervous system, which controls all bodily functions including movement, speech, and cognition.

The brain, spinal cord, and nerves make up the nervous system. Together they control all the workings of the body. When something goes wrong with a part of your nervous system, you can have trouble moving, speaking, swallowing, breathing, or learning. You can also have problems with your memory, senses, or mood.

Major types of neurologic diseases

There are more than 600 neurologic diseases. Major types include:

  • Diseases caused by faulty genes, such as Huntington's disease and muscular dystrophy
  • Problems with the way the nervous system develops, such as spina bifida
  • Degenerative diseases, where nerve cells are damaged or die, such as Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease
  • Diseases of the blood vessels that supply the brain, such as stroke
  • Injuries to the spinal cord and brain
  • Seizure disorders, such as epilepsy
  • Cancer, such as brain tumors
  • Infections, such as meningitis

Frequently Asked Questions

If you experience sudden weakness or numbness on one side of the body, difficulty speaking or understanding speech, sudden vision changes, severe headache with no known cause, loss of balance or coordination, or sudden confusion, call 911 immediately. These can be signs of stroke, brain bleed, or other acute neurologic emergencies that need rapid treatment.
Yes. Regular aerobic exercise, a Mediterranean‑style diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, fish, and healthy fats, maintaining a healthy weight, controlling blood pressure and cholesterol, staying socially engaged, and challenging your brain with puzzles or learning new skills have all been linked to reduced risk of neurodegenerative disorders. Avoid smoking and limit excessive alcohol.
If a close relative carries the Huntington gene, you can pursue predictive genetic testing, but it’s a personal decision. Genetic counseling before and after testing helps you understand the implications for health, family planning, insurance, and emotional wellbeing. Testing requires a blood sample and results typically take several weeks.
Mild occasional forgetfulness is common with aging, but red flags include forgetting recent events repeatedly, getting lost in familiar places, difficulty performing routine tasks, changes in personality or mood, and trouble with language. If these changes interfere with daily life, schedule a neurologist evaluation for cognitive testing and possible imaging.
Source: MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine

MedlinePlus brings together authoritative health information from the National Library of Medicine (NLM), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and other government agencies and health-related organizations.

kontakt@hittavard.se

Ⓒ 2024. Alla rättigheter förbehålls av juxt ab

Sök
Om ossVillkor och policyVanliga frågorKontakta oss