Progressive Neurological Disorders

Progressive neurological disorders are conditions or diseases that worsen over time. Dozens of these disorders affect millions of people around the world, and each has a set of symptoms and treatments. Treatment typically focuses on reducing or eliminating symptoms.

Types of Progressive Neurological Disorders

• One commonly recognized condition involving a progressive neurological disorder is Alzheimer's disease. The continual damage to and death of brain cells associated with this disease eventually affect all neuro-muscular pathways in the body.
  The common denominator in all such conditions is damage to, destruction or death of brain cells, nerve cells, or cells of spinal cord pathways and nerves, causing interruption of signal transmissions to or from the brain to the rest of the body. Other progressive neurological disorders include Huntington's disease, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis and muscular dystrophy.

Signs and Symptoms

• Observable signs of a neurological disorder include a change in gait or walking ability, balance and coordination. Seizures, partial paralysis and changes in reflexes or uncontrollable movements are also commonly noted in those diagnosed with a progressive neurological disorder. Pain, sensation interruption (such as an increasing inability to feel hot or cold) as well as loss of bowel and bladder control often occur as disease stages progress. Degenerative neurological disorders also eventually affect breathing, talking and heart function.

Duration of Condition

• The progressive state of many neurological conditions might take months, years or even decades to cause observable damage in an individual. For example, years may pass before a person diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's begins to exhibit signs that the condition is worsening, such as memory loss, inability to speak or inability to perform daily tasks, such as brushing teeth or maintaining bladder or bowel control. Individuals who had mild difficulties walking gradually may experience increased difficulty as nerve and muscle damage accumulates.

Degeneration Process

• Progressive degenerative disease processes differ, depending on the condition. For example, Huntington's disease causes a gradual wasting away of brain cells, while Parkinson's disease affects and damages cells in the section of the brain responsible for movement. A person diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy will suffer from the damage to and death of nerve cells in the spinal cord.

Causes

• In most cases, degenerative neurological conditions are caused by defective genes. However, other factors, such as chemical or environmental toxins or alcoholism, may cause permanent damage to organs and cells, too. Damage to brain cells cannot be reversed. The growth of abnormal cells is usually the result of defective genes. Scientists and medical researchers continue to study genes and cell replication to determine what exactly causes such mutations.

Treatments

• Treatments for degenerative neurological conditions are designed mainly to relieve and reduce symptoms. But as of June 2009, permanent cures for common disease processes, such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and Huntington's diseases, are still out of reach.