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The seat of our inner thoughts, our nervous system and perhaps our soul, the brain is a remarkably resilient organ. Yet, according to the American Brain Foundation, brain diseases affect one in six people, from psychiatric conditions to terminal degenerative diseases. From ALS and Alzheimer's disease to epilepsy and multiple sclerosis, conditions that affect brain health can occur in young and old – and often manifest themselves without warning. Although hundreds of diseases affect the brain, we have broken down the 15 most common diseases, ranging from genetically hereditary nerve disorders to brain tissue damage. By looking more closely at these brain conditions, their symptoms and their impact on lifestyle, and the way in which doctors in northeastern Ohio treat them with advanced and evolving therapies.
Alzheimer's disease
What it is: This irreversible brain disorder related to age is the most common cause of dementia. After the formation of abnormal protein deposits in the brain, many believe that these deposits can disrupt the communication of neurons with muscles and organs. These once healthy cells stop working and wither. Finally, patients are unable to function independently, suffering from chronic memory loss, personality changes and delusions.
The treatment: There is no cure for Alzheimer's disease. Doctors have had some success in treating memory loss with FDA-approved cholinesterase inhibitors, which increase the levels of a chemical messenger involved in memory manufacturing. Much remains unclear about what triggers the disease, beyond the fact that patients with a family history of Alzheimer's are more likely to develop it. "There are not many ways to prevent Alzheimer's, such as changing your diet, exercising or anything you do to prevent heart disease," says Dr. Marc Winkelman, a neurologist at MetroHealth. .
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
What it is: This degenerative neurological disease, rapidly progressive, attacks the nerve cells that control the muscles used to talk, eat, walk and perform other voluntary movements. Cognitive ability is not usually affected, as patients feel trapped in their own body. The causes of ALS, or Lou Gehrig's disease, are not fully understood. As it progresses, people experience difficulty swallowing, loss of mobility, and the ability to breathe on their own. ALS is fast, with an average prognosis of three years after the onset of the first symptoms.
The treatment: ALS is a terminal illness. The key is to manage the symptoms through medications and therapies. Respirator technology has evolved in recent years and ALS patients no longer require invasive tracheostomy. Riluzole has been a success, a drug that can prolong survival by delaying the need for a respirator for two to three months, but possible side effects on the liver and lungs require further testing. Nevertheless, "it gives hope that something can be found that would be more effective for ALS," says Winkelman.
aneurism
What it is: There is usually no warning before the rupture of an aneurysm. "The first symptoms may be a sudden and severe headache, and it is usually the aneurysm that is already leaking to cause brain hemorrhage," says Dr. Cathy Sila, chair of neurology at university hospitals. A balloon blood vessel in the brain caused by a weakened artery wall, a ruptured aneurysm can also cause nausea, double vision, seizures and death. A broken aneurysm is a medical emergency.
The treatment: Hypertension, smoking and aging are risk factors. Once trained, doctors can detect an aneurysm before it ruptures in MRI or computed tomography. After an interruption, doctors usually try to close the aneurysms by means of a surgical cut or a less invasive procedure with the help of a catheter.
Anxiety disorders
What it is: A mental illness characterized by chronic and obsessive worries about daily life, difficulty concentrating and sometimes panic attacks, the anatomical source of anxiety may be related to our primitive fighting or flight instincts. "It's an all-body response," says Dr. Susan Stagno, a psychiatrist at the University Hospital. "When people are anxious, they breathe faster, their heart rate goes up, their body is getting ready for something." Types include generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder and phobias. According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, it is the most common mental illness in the United States, affecting 40 million adults aged 18 and over.
The treatment: Some medications can increase levels of serotonin, a "chemical messenger" that transmits signals between brain cells and helps to regulate mood and panic symptoms. The various therapeutic practices include trauma care that examines how trauma modifies the functioning and chemistry of the brain, and cognitive-behavioral therapy that helps to soothe debilitating negative beliefs. Personal care also helps. "There are many skills that can be learned to help such as yoga, mindfulness and regular exercise," says Stagno.
Brain and tumor cancers
What it is: Although the World Health Organization recognizes more than 120 types of brain tumors, they generally fall into two categories: malignant tumors and benign tumors. Caused by abnormal cells forming in the brain and tissues of the spinal cord, malignant tumors can spread cancer throughout the brain, while benign tumors can develop and cause brain damage. Both can lead to seizures, paralysis, and speech difficulties. Cancer patients can develop brain cancer when these cells spread to the brain from other affected organs.
The treatment: Treatment varies depending on the type of tumor, although even benign mbades need to be removed surgically to prevent brain damage. For cancer, treatment plans may also include chemotherapy, radiation therapy or specialized neurosurgery on the spinal cord.
Dementia
What it is: When brain cells die in the cerebral cortex, the brain layer responsible for thoughts, memories, and personality, this results in dementia, a severe decline in mental acuity that often includes memory loss and disorientation. "Dementia is a symptom, not a disease," says Winkelman, comparing it to blindness. "There are different reasons why a person may be blind and develop dementia." Dementia is a symptom of both Alzheimer's disease and stroke, although not everyone with dementia of this disease.
The treatment: There are forms of dementia that can be treated: head injuries, brain tumors, infections such as meningitis and hormonal disorders, including hypoactive thyroid disorders. However, most dementia disorders are degenerative and irreversible. As with Alzheimer's disease, cholinesterase inhibitors can help relieve symptoms such as memory loss.
Depression
What it is: More than the sensation of being blue, depression is the leading cause of disability among 15- to 44-year-olds, a debilitating mood disorder whose symptoms may include extreme hopelessness, lightheadedness, and depression. irritability, insomnia, changes in appetite and suicidal thoughts. Nearly half of the people diagnosed also suffer from anxiety. "There is a lot of overlap," says Stagno. "It's quite common for a person who starts with an anxiety disorder to suffer from a depressive order in the future."
The treatment: In addition to speech therapy and medications, including antidepressants, antipsychotics and mood stabilizers, many therapeutic innovations have been made. For people suffering from chronic depression resistant to treatment, deep brain stimulation surgically implanted paired electrodes in the part of the brain that regulates mood. But a study from the Journal of General Internal Medicine found that only one-third of newly diagnosed depression patients were treated. "There are so many people who are untreated and needlessly suffering," says Stagno.
Epilepsy
What it is: Epilepsy refers to epileptic disorders that can be unpredictable and raise other concerns. It has a multitude of causes, including genetic diseases, abnormalities arising with the development of the cerebral cortex, head trauma or any other brain disease causing neurological damage, such as multiple sclerosis or cancer. "Basically, a crisis is your brain's response to stress," says Dr. Stephen Hantus, a neurologist at Cleveland Clinic.
The treatment: Sixty-six percent of patients respond well to antiepileptic drugs. The third who are not candidates for surgery or an implantable device. "With accurate diagnosis and treatment, patients can resume their lives," says Hantus, explaining that epilepsy can impede a person's ability to work, drive and participate in daily life. "The biggest challenge can be memory," he adds. "The more crises you have, the more your memory is affected, the sooner you treat them, the better."
Huntington's disease
What it is: This terminal genetic disease causes progressive degradation of nerve cells in the brain, caused by the "gene of Huntington's disease". A child with a parent has a 50% chance of developing Huntington's disease. The disease has essentially two parts, says Winkelman. It is primarily dementia, accompanied by "chorea", involuntary movements that can affect the entire body. "A person's arms can contract or move in a fascinating way, their face can warp to give an expression that can give a striking appearance," he says. In the early stages, most people with Huntington's disease can continue their daily lives, says Winkelman. But over time, patients may have personality changes, mood swings, depression, and anxiety. Over time, the disease results in speech problems, difficulty swallowing and significant weight loss.
The treatment: Medications can be used to reduce involuntary movements. Psychiatric symptoms can be treated by therapy and medication.
Meningitis
What it is: If you have headaches, fever, and stiff neck, you may have meningitis. These symptoms are caused by inflammation and swelling of the membranes surrounding your brain and spinal cord. Most commonly caused by infections, the most common meningitis is bacterial, viral, and fungal. If the disease is bacterial, it can lead to brain damage, hearing loss, learning difficulties and death.
The treatment: Bacterial meningitis should be treated quickly with medications such as intravenous antibiotics. There are also vaccines for three types of bacteria that cause meningitis. Viral meningitis is not as serious and may go away on its own, but should be treated by a doctor if symptoms persist, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Fungal meningitis, a rare type that occurs when the fungus spreads to the spinal cord through the blood, is primarily treated with intravenous antifungal medications.
migraines
What it is: Have you ever had such a headache, are you starting to see things? It is a common side effect of migraines, which often causes an "aura" or impairment of vision, including blurriness or the appearance of star shapes and sinuous lines. "We now understand that migraines are a brain disease," says Dr. Ronald Riechers, a neurologist at the Louis Stokes Cleveland Veterans Affairs Medical Center. Migraines can be seriously disruptive. A recent study from the Journal of American Medicine found that 25% of people with the disease had lost their job or education in the last three months.
The treatment: Although over-the-counter medications can relieve the immediate symptoms of migraines, regular use can lead to rebound headaches, which are harder to treat, says Riechers. Instead, work with your doctors to identify the root cause and personalize a plan of care. Many new migraine medications are coming onto the market, including some targeting CGRP, a protein that causes pain badociated with migraines. Avoiding triggers such as caffeine, processed foods containing nitrites and GMS and sleep deprivation can also help.
Multiple sclerosis
What it is: A progressive, potentially disabling disease that occurs when the immune system attacks myelin, the protective sheath surrounding nerve fibers. There are no two cases of multiple sclerosis. The most common type is relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis, characterized by flare-ups of symptoms, which can include numbness, stiff muscles, heat sensitivity, balance disorders, and weakness, depending on the part of the brain or spine damaged. These relapses are often followed by long periods of recovery, during which a patient may feel completely healthy. However, some patients with multiple sclerosis may need crutches or wheelchairs for their entire life.
The treatment: Special diets and exercise can alleviate some symptoms of MS. The most recent treatment is B-cell therapy, which is also used for rheumatoid arthritis and lymphoma. "With multiple sclerosis, we reuse drugs used against other diseases, which has improved our understanding of the science itself, which is interesting," says Dr. Robert Bermel, neurologist at Cleveland Clinic. . "It can be a lesson we can apply to other neurological disorders when we are exploring treatments."
Parkinson's disease
What it is: For a person with Parkinson's disease, raising your arm may require a herculean effort, until a tremor makes it shake uncontrollably. When nerve cells in the brain and spine that control motor function break down and die, patients experience stiffness, slow movement, speech changes, and tremors. Lack of movement can result in a "masked face" or lack of expression. "That does not mean that their emotions are not there," says Winkelman. "Yet their faces seem helpless. It's part of the disease. This can be fatal and the disease has a considerable impact on daily life.
The treatment: Medications, a healthy diet, physical therapy and surgical procedures can help. Since the disease is caused by a lack of dopamine in the brain, treatments that quickly raise this chemical in the body can be effective, says Winkelman. But for the moment, therapies treat the symptoms, but do not slow the progression of the disease.
Stroke
What it is: When you identify a stroke, act FAST. A common test to diagnose the disease, the acronym identifies the drooping face, arm weakness and slurred speech as symptoms suggestive of 911. Blocking or interrupting the circulating blood in the brain, strokes usually reach their paroxysm can occur at any age, says Sila. Stroke victims may suffer from paralysis, difficulty speaking and thinking, headaches, coma or death. Blocked arteries and high blood pressure are the main risk factors. Today, this means that the reference is 120/80 for all ages.
The treatment: Treatments for mini-strokes, or attacks that last only a few minutes, include a healthy diet, regular exercise, and blood thinners that reduce the risk of blood clots. For major, sudden and severe strokes, these patients require immediate emergency care. A CT scan will produce an image of the brain to help doctors determine the cause, whether it is a blocked artery or bleeding in the brain. Anti-clotting drugs can be given immediately. If care is provided quickly, there can be no permanent damage. Surgery may be necessary to clear the obstructed artery, followed by physical therapy and medication.
Traumatic brain injury
What it is: Despite the playful saying, ringing your bell can have serious consequences. Head trauma usually resulting from a violent blow or a violent head strike, which affects or penetrates the brain tissue, can range from mild to severe, each with its own set of symptoms. Concussions are usually clbadified in mild TBI, often accompanied by vertigo, headache and irritability. More serious brain damage can impact other systems in the body because the brain is the mainstay of body function and can include loss of consciousness, fatigue, coma, or death.
The treatment: The treatment varies depending on the severity of the injury. "Sleep is an essential part of recovery," says Riechers, pointing out that the prescription of a concussion is rest. "You want to give rest to the cerebral muscle, as if you were resting for a ligament or a tense muscle of the body." With more serious wounds, anti-epileptic drugs, surgical pressure relief and rehabilitation probes may be necessary.
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