We review which are the pathologies of the NS that affect the most population worldwide.
But like any system, ours is also not immune to internal vulnerabilities, such as autoimmune diseases or tumors, and external attacks such as viruses or trauma. To learn more about what they consist of, in this article we are going to talk about the 20 most common nervous system diseases .
- Recommended article: “The 10 most common hereditary diseases (and their characteristics)”
The 20 most common nervous system diseases
There are many disorders and diseases that affect the nervous system (central and peripheral) and whose symptoms vary in severity depending on the area of the brain or spinal cord that they affect. Some of them can be especially disabling, and can affect both sensory and motor levels.
Here is a list of the 20 most common nervous system diseases .
1. Multiple sclerosis and other demyelinating diseases
These diseases of the nervous system, which are usually autoimmune and degenerative, are caused by a deficiency of myelin , the substance that covers the axons and makes nerve connections faster and more efficient. It is also the cause of other disorders such as leukodystrophy or encephalomyelitis.
2. Epilepsy
Epilepsy is a disease characterized by increased electrical activity in certain areas of the brain . It usually causes seizures that can be partial or local, or more generalized. Symptoms include: confusion, truancy, uncontrollable movements, and sometimes loss of consciousness.
3. Tumors
Tumors are formed by the uncontrolled growth of nerve cells that end up forming a mass that spreads to different areas of the nervous system. They are classified according to the cells from which they originate, such as astrocytomas (of astrocytes), glioblastomas (of glia) or oligodendrogliomas (of oligodendrocytes). Depending on its size and location, the tumor can cause damage to the functioning of internal organs, and to sensory and muscular levels.
4. Alzheimer’s disease
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia and is caused by the accumulation of toxic plaques in certain areas of the brain. It is a degenerative disorder and currently has no cure.
The person suffering from Alzheimer’s suffers symptoms such as loss of the ability to reason, memory loss , behavioral and social difficulties. Ultimately there is complete incapacity.
5. Motor neuron diseases
These diseases of the nervous system gradually destroy motor neurons, causing muscle weakness and atrophy , as in the case of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
Other disorders classified in this group include progressive bulbar palsy, which causes speech and swallowing difficulties; and progressive muscle atrophy, which causes muscle weakness and wasting, as well as sudden contractions and movements of the muscles.
6. Neurofibromatosis
Neurofibromatosis is a genetic disease that affects the nervous system and causes the growth of nerve tumors . In general, the tumors are usually benign (not cancerous), but can sometimes turn into cancer. It is a disorder for which there is no cure.
7. Parkinson’s disease
Parkinson’s disease is a clinical entity characterized by tremors, muscle rigidity , slowness of movement and impaired reflexes. It is the second most common neurodegenerative disease. It has been suggested that the symptoms of Parkinson’s are mainly caused by degeneration of the dopaminergic system.
8. Cerebrovascular accident
Stroke affects the blood vessels that supply the brain. Usually, the injury cuts off the blood supply to an area of the brain, or a blood spill occurs.
Depending on the affected area and its extent, the symptoms may appear gradually or suddenly and the person may suffer more or less serious sequelae, including speech, memory or cognition disorders.
9. Viral and prion infections
Virus-borne and prion-borne diseases are rare, progressive, degenerative disorders of the nervous system, usually fatal and untreatable. For example, herpes simplex virus can destroy the medial parts of the temporal lobes and groups of neurons, glial cells, myelinated nerve fibers, and blood vessels.
10. Non-viral infections
Among the non-viral infections of the nervous system, acute meningitis , caused by a bacterium, stands out. This disease causes rapid-onset inflammation in the tissue that covers the brain and spinal cord (the meninges), and in the space that contains cerebrospinal fluid between the meninges (the subarachnoid space).
11. Headaches
Headache is defined as a headache and is not a disease but a symptom common to many diseases, hence its high frequency.
There are different types: migraine (with and without aura), tension headache, cluster headache, headache associated with head injuries and headache associated with vascular disorders, among others. Symptoms vary, but include: throbbing or throbbing pain, sensitivity to light or noise, vision changes, or nausea.
12. Sleep disorders
Among the main sleep disorders are: insomnia, narcolepsy, sleep-wake rhythm disorders, parasomnias or restless legs syndrome. All of them have in common difficulties in falling asleep correctly, increased movement or abnormal behaviors during sleep.
13. Cerebrovascular disease
Cerebrovascular disease is a disorder of the nervous system characterized by a sudden onset, with symptoms that last 24 hours or more and can leave serious sequelae or even cause death.
It can be ischemic (interruption of blood flow) or hemorrhagic (due to obstruction). Symptoms include: vision disturbances, loss of muscle sensitivity, headache, unsteady gait, etc.
14. Head injury
It is the most common cause of traumatic brain injury . Brain damage after trauma is due, on the one hand, to the primary injury (contusion or impact on the skull or with rapid acceleration/deceleration movement); and on the other hand, to the secondary injury (haemorrhage, increased intracranial pressure, edema, etc.) that occurs as a result of the primary injury days after the accident, and that can lead to serious consequences.
15. Sensitivity disorders, paresthesias and dysesthesias
Sensory disorders include paresthesia , a disorder in which sensations (tingling, numbness, etc.) in one or more parts of the body are abnormally perceived; and dysesthesia, a condition characterized by reduced or increased tactile sensitivity.
16. Metabolic diseases
These types of disorders can be hereditary or acquired and are due to failures in the synthesis or absence of enzymes , endocrine or food abnormalities (which affect the balance of carbohydrates, nucleotides, lipids, etc.), among other causes.
These illnesses typically begin with altered alertness (eg, drowsiness), followed by agitation, confusion, delusions, or psychosis, and may progress to stupor and death.
17. Neuropathies
Neuropathies are diseases of the peripheral nervous system and can be classified according to the affected nerves: motor, responsible for muscle contraction (atrophy, weakness); and sensitive, whose function is to capture information from the outside (loss of sensitivity, paresthesia, cramps, etc.).
There are mononeuropathies, in which only one nerve is affected; and polyneuropathies, in which several nerves are affected and cause multiple symptoms such as muscle atrophy, weakness, or loss of control and sensation.
18. Cerebral palsy
Cerebral palsy includes a group of nervous system disorders that have in common loss of mobility , and difficulties with balance and posture. The most common types are: hemiplegia (paralysis of half the body), paraplegia (lower limbs), tetraplegia (arms and legs affected) and dysplegia (generally only legs).
19. Neuralgia
Neuralgia causes intense and sharp pain due to an injury to one of the nerves, either by compression, distortion, irritation or exposure to cold.
Craniofacial neuralgia includes a series of disorders characterized by the presence of neuropathic pain (paroxysmal, of short duration and located along the distribution area of a nerve).
20. Diseases of the cranial nerves
The involvement of any of the 12 cranial nerves can be due to multiple causes , such as extrinsic compression, trauma or microischemia.
For example, damage to the oculomotor nerves produces ophthalmoparesis, diplopia, ptosis, and pupillary abnormalities; an injury to the glossopharyngeal nerve causes dysphagia; and an affectation of the vagus nerve is associated with dysphonia and cardiorespiratory vegetative alterations.
Bibliographic references
- Bradley, WG, Daroff, RB, Fenichel, GM, & Jankovic, J. (2010). Clinical neurology: neurological disorders. vol 2
- Netter, FH (2008). Essential Neurology. 1st edition in Spanish by Elsevier Spain, SL.
- World Health Organization. (2006). Neurological disorders: public health challenges. World Health Organization.
To the classic question “what do you do?” I always answer “basically I am a psychologist”. In fact, my academic training has revolved around the psychology of development, education and community, a field of study influenced my volunteer activities, as well as my first work experiences in personal services.
