Neurological Disorders are Common Problem of Aging

As we age, our body undergoes many changes which are potential signs that indicate we are getting old. Though some changes are visible but others are invisible to us. The aging process cause changes in our brain as well as central nervous system. This is one of the reasons that neurological problems more likely occur in old age. Some of the common neurological disorders that affect elderly are Stroke, Neuropathy, Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease. If you feel you are suffering from any of the neurological issue, the first step is being assessed by a neurologist.

During your appointment, your physician will ask a series of questions to know about your conditional and conduct some neurological tests. Nowadays, the disorders of brain and nervous system can be successfully treated as there is much advancement in medical technology.

Some of the common neurological disorders you are likely to encounter are:

Neuropathy

It refers to the nerve malfunction or disorder that occurs anywhere in the body. The common symptoms are numbness and weakness, often affecting the hands and feet. Usually, it occurs as a result of systemic diseases such as diabetes or medications and other causes.

Alzheimer’s disease

A form of dementia, Alzheimer’s is a progressive disease which destroys brain cells and interferes with a person’s cognitive and physical functions.

Parkinson’s disease

It is a degenerative neurological disease that causes a person to lose control over some body functions. Symptoms start with a tremor in one hand, slow movement, stiffness and loss of balance. Treatment options include medication and surgery to manage symptoms.

Myopathy

A muscle disease in which the muscle fibers do not function properly and is most severe in the upper arms and thighs.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease is a progressive disease that affects motor neurons and causes deterioration of the body’s muscle function.

Stroke

A dangerous, life-threatening medical condition in which poor supply of blood flow to the brain results in cell death. Symptoms include trouble walking, speech difficulty, paralysis or numbness of the face, arm or leg.

Myasthenia Gravis

A chronic neuromuscular disease that blocks the signals from the nerves to the muscles and makes the muscles weak that increases during periods of activity and improves after periods of rest. The commonly affected muscles are of the eyes, face and swallowing.

Muscular dystrophy

A group of disease that cause progressive weakness and loss of muscle mass. It occurs when the abnormal genes interfere with the production of proteins needed to form healthy muscle. The symptoms start with weakening of the muscles that progress to severe muscle deterioration and muscle contraction.

Can you prevent neurological disorders?

Luckily, there are some steps which can be taken to minimize the chances of a neurological disorder. The foremost step is controlling the risk factors such as smoking, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity, and lack of exercise that can lead to stroke or other neurological issues, consult a neurologist. However, if you suffer from a neurological problem when you get older, the healthier version of you can easily deal with it.