Brain and Spine Disorders: Everything You Need To Know

Brain and spinal cord disorders primarily affect a person’s central nervous system. However, because it affects the nervous system, the effects can also extend to other systems of the body and can potentially lead to permanent disability.

What Are Brain and Spine Disorders?

Brain and spine disorders refer to disorders that affect a person’s central nervous system. This also means that aside from affecting the brain and spine, the effects of these disorders can also extend to other organs and systems of the body.

It is also possible that certain brain and spine disorders can cause permanent disability. This is especially true in the case of spinal injury, brain damage, as well as any disorders that a person might have been born with.

Brain and spine disorders can include the following:

• Alzheimer’s disease
• Dementia
• Dementia with Lewy bodies
• Brain stem death
• Parkinson’s disease
• Stroke
• Huntington’s disease
• Motor neurone disease
• Febrile seizures
• Epilepsy
• Meningitis
• Multiple sclerosis
• Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or ALS
• Chronic pain
• Chronic fatigue syndrome
• Autism spectrum disorder
• Mental health disorders
• Migraine
• Headaches
• Sleep Disorders

Some central nervous system disorders are more mild, such as a headache or migraine, while others can be more serious such as multiple sclerosis, dementia, or stroke.

It is also possible for some disorders to affect both the brain and the spinal cord, while others affect just one. In particular, multiple sclerosis and ALS are disorders that affect both the brain and the spinal cord. In contrast, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and dementia are disorders that affect only the brain.

Brain and Spine Disorders: What Are the Symptoms?

The symptoms of central nervous system disorders can vary widely depending on what organs are affected, as well as the nature of the disorder. Some disorders, such as dementia or Alzheimer’s disease can cause cognitive decline, which results in memory loss, difficulty concentrating, and even personality changes.

Other disorders, such as multiple sclerosis or ALS can cause muscle spasms and difficulty moving. More serious problems such as stroke or damage to the spinal cord can lead to partial or even complete paralysis of the body.

In addition, here are some of the possible symptoms of brain and spine disorders:

• Intense headaches
• Fatigue or tiredness
• Numbness
• Sudden pain
• Difficulty moving
• Twitching
• Back pain
• Muscle rigidity
• Seizures
• Slurred speech
• Paralysis
• Memory loss
• Personality changes

It is possible for more serious disorders to start out with mild symptoms such as headache, or numbness, and progress to more serious problems. This is why it is important to be mindful of any symptoms you might be experiencing, and to not ignore any of them.

If you experience any of these symptoms, it would be best to get in touch with your doctor. Brain and spinal cord disorders can cause serious health problems and permanent disability, so it would be best to get it checked and treated as soon as possible.

Causes and Risk Factors

The causes of brain and spinal cord disorders can also vary depending on what type of disorder it is.

Here are some of the more common causes:

• Infection
• Damage or trauma to the brain or spinal cord
• Tumors
• Degeneration
• Autoimmune disorders
• Loss of blood flow

Here are some things that can increase a person’s risk for brain and spinal cord disorders:

• Hereditary
• Genetic disorders
• Birth defects
• Working in a high-risk workplace
• Drug abuse
• Drinking too much alcohol
• Smoking
• Being obese or overweight
• Old age
• Gender

Prevention and Treatment

When it comes to central nervous system disorders, it’s not always possible to prevent them. In the case of Alzheimer’s, ALS, multiple sclerosis, and other similar disorders, there really isn’t a way to outright prevent it.

But for other brain and spinal cord disorders, there are some things that you can do in order to lower your risk:

Eat a healthy diet.

Prioritize eating fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as foods that are high in fiber. Lower your intake of sugars, fats, as well as animal protein, and try to avoid eating processed foods.

Engage in exercise daily.

At least 30 minutes of exercise each day can help you maintain your good health, and can also have a positive effect on your brain and spinal cord.

Follow the safety protocols

If you work in a high-risk workplace, such as a construction site, be sure to wear proper safety equipment and follow safety guidelines to help prevent injuries to your brain and spine.

Wear your seatbelt

Whenever you are driving or riding in a car, be sure to wear your seatbelt . For instance, if you get into an accident, seatbelts can save your life and prevent serious injury to your brain and spinal cord.

Make sure circulatory system is healthy

Your brain requires adequate blood flow in order to function normally. So it would be best to focus on making sure that your circulatory system is healthy in order to avoid problems such as stroke, hypertension, and atherosclerosis.

Maintain proper posture.

Keep your back straight. Having bad posture can cause problems in your spine, and even affect blood flow.

Learn more about Brain and Spine Disorders here.