1. © 2009 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved 29-1 Common Diseases and Disorders Disease/DisorderDescription Alzheimer’s disease Progressive, degenerative disease of the brain Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) Lou Gehrig’s disease Degeneration of neurons in the spinal cord and brain Bell’s palsyWeak or paralyzed facial muscles

2. © 2009 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved 29-2 Common Diseases and Disorders (cont.) Disease/DisorderDescription Brain tumors and cancers Abnormal growths Can be primary or secondary tumors Most common – gliomas Epilepsy and seizures Occurs as a result of bursts of electrical signals that disrupt normal brain functioning Guillain-Barré Syndrome Body’s immune system attacks the PNS

3. © 2009 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved 29-3 Disease/DisorderDescription Headaches Tension Migraines Cluster Episodic or chronic With aura/without aura Form of migraines; occurs in groups MeningitisInflammation of meninges Multiple sclerosis (MS) Chronic disease of CNS Myelin is destroyed Common Diseases and Disorders (cont.)

4. © 2009 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved 29-4 Disease/DisorderDescription NeuralgiasDisorders causing nerve pain Parkinson’s disease Progressive and degenerative motor system disorder SciaticaDamage to sciatic nerve StrokeBrain cells die because of an inadequate blood flow; “brain attack” Common Diseases and Disorders (cont.)

5. © 2009 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved 29-5 Apply Your Knowledge True or false: ___ Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive degenerative disease of the brain. ___ Epilepsy is due to degenerative neurons in the spinal cord and brain. ___ Neuralgias are motor system disorders. ___ Stroke occurs when brain cells die because of inadequate blood flow. F F T Due to a burst of electrical signals that disrupt brain function. They are group of disorders referred to as nerve pain. T ANSWER: Bravo!