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A-Z of Conditions

What is a neurological condition?

Neurological conditions are health disorders involving the brain and nervous system and may be caused by physical injury or result from biochemical causes.  A neurological condition may cause paralysis of any part of the body. They include multiple sclerosis, motor neurone disease, Parkinson's disease, stroke, dementia, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, Huntingdon's disease and acquired brain injury.

Many of the precise causes of neurological conditions are not yet known. Neurological conditions affect young and old, men and women and people from all cultures and ethnicities.  Multiple sclerosis is more prevalent in the northern hemisphere.

Some neurological conditions are life-long or people can experience onset at any time in their lives.  Cerebral palsy is present from birth whilst muscular dystrophy appears in early childhood.  Some conditions such as Huntington's disease have a genetic link and can also occur in young people.

Stroke and Parkinson's disease are commonly thought of as occurring in older people, but there are incidences of stroke, Parkinson's in younger people.  Epilepsy can impact at any time of life with 25% of people who have had a stroke developing epilepsy.

Many neurological conditions are rare, but the issues facing people living with a long term neurological condition, in terms of their treatment, care, employment and leisure opportunities, and quality of life, are often the same.

If the A-Z of conditions doesn't have the details you require then please visit the NINDS website here http://www.ninds.nih.gov/index.htm

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What is a neurological condition?

Neurological conditions are health disorders involving the brain and nervous system and may be caused by physical injury or result from biochemical causes.  A neurological condition may cause paralysis of any part of the body. They include multiple sclerosis, motor neurone disease, Parkinson's disease, stroke, dementia, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, Huntingdon's disease and acquired brain injury.

Many of the precise causes of neurological conditions are not yet known. Neurological conditions affect young and old, men and women and people from all cultures and ethnicities.  Multiple sclerosis is more prevalent in the northern hemisphere.

Some neurological conditions are life-long or people can experience onset at any time in their lives.  Cerebral palsy is present from birth whilst muscular dystrophy appears in early childhood.  Some conditions such as Huntington's disease have a genetic link and can also occur in young people.

Stroke and Parkinson's disease are commonly thought of as occurring in older people, but there are incidences of stroke, Parkinson's in younger people.  Epilepsy can impact at any time of life with 25% of people who have had a stroke developing epilepsy.

Many neurological conditions are rare, but the issues facing people living with a long term neurological condition, in terms of their treatment, care, employment and leisure opportunities, and quality of life, are often the same.

How many people in the UK live with long-term neurological conditions?

Based on the best information currently available:

  • 1 in 6 of the UK population has a neurological condition that has a significant impact on their lives
  • Almost 50,000 people in the North East have been diagnosed with one of the 15 most common neurological conditions (NEPHO, June 2009)
  • Nationally, one million people are disabled by their condition, 350,000 of whom require help for most daily activities
  • Approximately one-third of disabled people living in residential homes have a neurological condition.
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