Neurological illnesses information

Information on Neurological Illnesses

Neurology is a medical specialty dealing with disorders of the nervous system. Specifically, it deals with the
diagnosis and treatment of all categories of disease involving the central, peripheral, and autonomic nervous
systems, including their coverings, blood vessels, and all effector tissue, such as muscle. General information on
some common neurological illness and relevant links are given below.

For a more complete A-Z of Brain Disorders see the Australian Brain Foundation website.

Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy

Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) is a neurological disorder that results in slowly
progressive weakness and loss of feeling in the legs and arms. It is caused by the body’s immune system
inappropriately reacting against and damaging myelin. Myelin surrounds the peripheral nerves and acts like an
insulator so that the nerves can conduct impulses properly.

Dementia

Dementia is the progressive decline in mental functioning due to damage or disease in the body beyond what
might be expected from normal aging. Although dementia is far more common in the older adults, it may occur in
any stage of adulthood.

see Dementia Care Australia

also Alzheimer's Australia

Dystonia

Dystonia is a neurological condition – one of the movement disorders – in which involuntary muscle contractions
cause twisting or repetitive movements, or abnormal body postures. Any part of the body may be affected: in
some cases, only a single muscle is involved, while in others, a group of muscles (e.g. in the arm or leg), or the
entire body may be affected

Epilepsy

Epilepsy is a neurological disorder in which brief, recurrent changes in the electrical activity of the brain lead to
seizures or ‘fits’, lasting from a few seconds to several minutes.

During an epileptic seizure, brain cells may fire at many times their normal rate. In a partial seizure, only a part
of the brain is involved, while in a primary, generalised seizure, the entire brain is involved.

see also:

Epilepsy Foundation of Victoria

National Epilepsy Association of Australia

Multiple sclerosis

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a debilitating disease, which affects the central nervous system. The nerve fibres,
which make up our central nervous system and transmit messages from our brain, throughout our body, are
wrapped in a fatty sheath, made of a substance known as Myelin. In MS, the Myelin sheath is attacked causing
inflammation or damage. Areas of scarring (Sclerosis) result and these scars can disrupt or even block signals
within the brain and spinal cord. These scars may cause loss of nerve fibres as well as their ensheathing myelin.

The disruption or blocking of nerve signals within the central nervous system causes a variety of symptoms,
depending on which areas of the brain and spinal cord are affected. Symptoms may include:

Loss of coordination/clumsiness
Speech difficulties
Hand shaking/tremor
Loss of bladder/bowel control
Extreme fatigue
Sight impairments
Memory lapses
Vertigo
Weakness
Impaired sensation

For further information/support: MS Australia

Parkinson disease

Parkinson disease (see link) belongs to a group of conditions called movement disorders. It is characterized by
muscle rigidity, tremor, a slowing of physical movement (bradykinesia) and loss of balance (postural instability).

see also Parkinson's Victoria

and Parkinson's UK

Tourette syndrome

Tourette Syndrome is an inherited neurological disorder characterized by repeated involuntary movements and
uncontrollable vocal sounds called tics.

Support: Tourette Syndrome Association (Australia)

Stroke

A stroke is the rapidly developing loss of brain functions due to a disturbance in the blood vessels supplying
blood to the brain. This can be due to ischemia (lack of blood supply) caused by thrombosis or embolism or due
to a hemorrhage. As a result, the affected area of the brain is unable to function, leading to inability to move one
side of the face, one or more limbs on one side of the body, inability to understand or formulate speech or
inability to see one side of the visual field.

see National Stroke Foundation

Tremor

Tremor is an unintentional, somewhat rhythmic, muscle movement involving to-and-from movements
(oscillations) of one or more parts of the body. It is the most common of all involuntary movements and can
affect the hands, arms, head, face, vocal cords, trunk, and legs. Most tremors occur in the hands. In some people,
tremor is a symptom of another neurological disorder.

Dr Andrew H Evans
Flemington Neurology

Suite 105
55 Flemington Road
North Melbourne, Victoria 3051
admin@flemingtonneurology.com
t: 03 9348 9381 f: 03 9329 1473