Neurological Conditions Overview

Every time we think, sense, breathe, or move, our nervous system is relaying signals from our brain throughout our bodies via microscopic cells called neurons.¹ These nerve cells are the foundation of our nervous system, which includes the brain and spinal cord.²

When someone has a neurological condition, also called a neurological disease or nervous system disease, something disrupts the nervous system’s function and coordination of brain and body. As a result, a person may face challenging symptoms such as movement problems, difficulty communicating, and memory trouble.²

What are neurological conditions?

Research suggests that a growing number of people in the U.S. have neurological conditions.³ The hundreds of known neurological conditions have different causes and effects on the body.²

For example, injuries to the nervous system and infections from certain viruses, bacteria, and parasites can cause neurological problems.^2,4 Other neurological conditions may stem from genetic mutations. Sometimes, neurological conditions arise because the nervous system does not develop properly, and some disorders may develop as a person ages and nerve cells deteriorate.²

Common causes of neurological conditions include:

• Stroke²
• Damage to the brain or spinal cord²
• Cancer²
• Seizure²
• Aging⁵

How do neurological conditions affect the body?

Neurological conditions can affect how a person learns, talks, thinks, moves , breathes, and swallows. They can even alter someone’s mood, senses, and memory.²

Symptoms vary among the more than 600 neurological conditions.² Some symptoms associated with different neurological diseases include:

• Headache with nausea, light sensitivity, or vomiting⁶
• Blurry or double vision⁷
• Weak muscles⁷
• Numb or tingling limbs⁷
• Feeling tired mentally or physically⁷
• Trouble thinking⁷
• Seizures⁸
• Difficulty moving or controlling muscles^7,8