Stroke Overview A stroke is an illness that suddenly disrupts the brain's function by interfering with part of its blood supply. amyotrophic lateral sclerosis Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) causes a slow degeneration of nerve cells that control muscle movements. tremor Essential Tremor Tremor is the shaky movements of your hands, limbs, head or voice that you can't control. When tremor occurs during activities and there is no emotional or chemical cause, it can be a sign of a neurological disease called essential tremor. botulism Botulism In the United States, roughly 100 people become ill each year with botulism, a form of poisoning caused by exposure to Clostridium botulinum bacteria. head injury in children Head Injury in Children Each year, childhood head injuries result in more than 500,000 emergency room visits in the United States, with more than 95,000 hospitalizations. cerebral palsy Cerebral Palsy Cerebral palsy is the name given to a large group of motor (body movement) disorders that begin early in life and result from brain injuries that are non-progressive (do not worsen over time). concussion Concussion A concussion is a short-term disturbance in brain function caused by a head injury. Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD) Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) is a rare, fatal brain disorder caused by prions. Prions are normal proteins that have changed their shape. diabetic neuropathy Diabetic Neuropathies Diabetic neuropathies are nerve disorders that affect people with diabetes. Down syndrome Down Syndrome Down syndrome is a disorder caused by an abnormality of the chromosomes. The condition also is called trisomy 21. encephalitis Encephalitis Encephalitis means inflammation of the brain. This inflammation usually is triggered by a viral infection. facial tics Tics A tic is a sudden, rapid, repetitive movement (motor tic) or vocalization (vocal tic). fragile X syndrome Fragile X Syndrome Fragile X syndrome is an inherited disorder associated with mental retardation and a particular appearance. Guillain-Barre syndrome Guillain-Barre Syndrome Guillain-Barre syndrome is an uncommon disorder that causes damage to the peripheral nerves. hydrocephalus Hydrocephalus Hydrocephalus, also known as "water on the brain," is a condition in which there is extra cerebrospinal fluid around the brain and spinal cord. meningitis Meningitis Meningitis is a viral or bacterial infection of the coverings (meninges) of the brain and spinal cord. motor tics Tics A tic is a sudden, rapid, repetitive movement (motor tic) or vocalization (vocal tic). multiple sclerosis Multiple Sclerosis Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a disabling neurological illness. It affects the brain and spinal cord. muscular dystrophy Muscular Dystrophy Muscular dystrophy refers to a group of genetic (inherited) conditions that cause the body's muscles to deteriorate slowly over time, and become increasingly weak. myasthenia gravis Myasthenia Gravis Myasthenia gravis is a chronic (long-lasting) and rare disease that affects the way muscles respond to signals from nerves, leading to muscle weakness. Parkinson's disease Parkinson's Disease Parkinson's disease (PD) is a disease of the central nervous system. It causes problems with body motions. phenylketonuria Phenylketonuria (PKU) Phenylketonuria (PKU) is a rare, genetic (inherited) disorder that can cause abnormal mental and physical development if not detected promptly and treated appropriately. polio Polio Polio is a highly contagious infection caused by the poliovirus. In a small percentage of infected people, the virus attacks nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. post-polio syndrome Post-Polio Syndrome Post-polio syndrome is an illness defined by a collection of symptoms that generally occur at least 10-20 years after infection with the polio virus. spina bifida Spina Bifida Spina bifida occurs when a fetus's developing spinal column does not close properly in the first 28 days following fertilization. subdural hematoma Subdural Hematoma A subdural hematoma occurs when a blood vessel near the surface of the brain bursts. The condition is also called a subdural hemorrhage. transient ischemic attack Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA) A transient ischemic attack (TIA) is an episode of stroke-like symptoms. It usually lasts less than one hour. trigeminal neuralgia Trigeminal Neuralgia (Tic Douloureux) Trigeminal neuralgia, also known as tic douloureux, is a painful disorder of a nerve in the face called the trigeminal nerve or fifth cranial nerve. Friedreich's ataxia Friedreich's Ataxia Friedreich's ataxia is an inherited (genetic) disorder that causes certain nerve cells to deteriorate over time. Huntington's disease Huntington's Disease (Chorea) Huntington's disease causes nerve cells in the brain to stop working properly. Reye syndrome Reye Syndrome Reye syndrome is a very rare disorder that damages many parts of the body, especially the brain and the liver. Tay-Sachs disease Tay-Sachs Disease Tay-Sachs disease is an inherited disease caused by an abnormal gene. People with this abnormal gene lack an important enzyme called hexosaminidase A (HEXA) that helps to break down a fatty material called ganglioside GM2. This material builds up in the brain, and eventually damages nerve cells and causes neurological problems. Tourette's syndrome Tourette Syndrome Tourette syndrome (TS) is a problem of the nervous system. The major symptom is tics. head injury in adults Head Injury in Adults Head injury includes several medical problems that are caused by trauma to the head. stroke Stroke Overview A stroke is an illness that suddenly disrupts the brain's function by interfering with part of its blood supply. overview hemorrhagic lacunar subarachnoid hemorrhage thrombotic transient ischemic attack tumor Brain Tumor Overview A brain tumor is a mass of abnormally growing cells in the brain or skull. abscess Brain Abscess A brain abscess is a collection of pus enclosed in the brain tissue. tic douloureux Trigeminal Neuralgia (Tic Douloureux) Trigeminal neuralgia, also known as tic douloureux, is a painful disorder of a nerve in the face called the trigeminal nerve or fifth cranial nerve. Intracranial aneurysm Intracranial Aneurysm Arteries are tunnels that blood travels through to get from the heart to various parts of the body. An aneurysm is a bulge in an artery.