NEURON

A neuron is a nerve cell that is the basic building block of the nervous system. Neurons are
similar to other cells in the human body in a number of ways, but there is one key difference
between neurons and other cells. Neurons are specialized to transmit information throughout the
body.

These highly specialized nerve cells are responsible for communicating

information in both chemical and electrical forms. There are also several different
types of neurons responsible for different tasks in the human body.

Sensory neurons carry information from the sensory receptor cells throughout the
body to the brain. Motor neurons transmit information from the brain to the
muscles of the body. Interneurons are responsible for communicating information
between different neurons in the body.

THE STRUCTURE OF A NEURON

There are three basic parts of a neuron: the dendrites, the cell body, and the axon. However, all
neurons vary somewhat in size, shape, and characteristics depending on the function and role of
the neuron.

Some neurons have few dendritic branches, while others are highly branched in order to receive
a great deal of information. Some neurons have short axons, while others can be quite long. The
longest axon in the human body extends from the bottom of the spine to the big toe and averages
a length of approximately three feet.

STAN BORN TO BEAT STAN BORN TO BEAT STAN BORN TO BEAT STAN BORN TO BEAT STAN BTOB <3<3
 PARTS OF A NEURON

Neurons vary in size, shape, and structure depending on their role and location. However, nearly
all neurons have three essential parts: a cell body, an axon, and dendrites.

CELL BODY

Also known as a soma, the cell body is the neuron’s core. The cell body carries genetic
information, maintains the neuron’s structure, and provides energy to drive activities.

Like other cell bodies, a neuron’s soma contains a nucleus and specialized organelles. It’s
enclosed by a membrane which both protects it and allows it to interact with its immediate
surroundings.

AXON

An axon is a long, tail-like structure which joins the cell body at a specialized junction called the
axon hillock. Many axons are insulated with a fatty substance called myelin. Myelin helps axons
to conduct an electrical signal. Neurons generally have one main axon.

DENDRITES

Dendrites are fibrous roots that branch out from the cell body. Like antennae, dendrites receive
and process signals from the axons of other neurons. Neurons can have more than one set of
dendrites, known as dendritic trees. How many they have generally depends on their role.

For instance, Purkinje cells are a special type of neuron found in the cerebellum. These cells
have highly developed dendritic trees which allow them to receive thousands of signals.

FUNCTION OF NEURONS

Neurons send signals using action potentials. An action potential is a shift in the neuron’s electric
potential caused by the flow of ions in and out of the neural membrane.

Action potentials can trigger both chemical and electrical synapses.

STAN BORN TO BEAT STAN BORN TO BEAT STAN BORN TO BEAT STAN BORN TO BEAT STAN BTOB <3<3
CHEMICAL SYNAPSES

In a chemical synapse, action potentials affect other neurons via a gap between neurons called a
synapse. Synapses consist of a presynaptic ending, a synaptic cleft, and a postsynaptic ending.

When an action potential is generated, it’s carried along the axon to a presynaptic ending. This
triggers the release of chemical messengers called neurotransmitters. These molecules cross the
synaptic cleft and bind to receptors in the postsynaptic ending of a dendrite.

Neurotransmitters can excite the postsynaptic neuron, causing it to generate an action potential of
its own. Alternatively, they can inhibit the postsynaptic neuron, in which case it doesn’t generate
an action potential.

ELECTRICAL SYNAPSES

Electrical synapses can only excite. They occur when two neurons are connected via a gap
junction. This gap is much smaller than a synapse, and includes ion channels which facilitate the
direct transmission of a positive electrical signal. As a result, electrical synapses are much faster
than chemical synapses. However, the signal diminishes from one neuron to the next, making
them less effective at transmitting.

TYPES OF NEURONS

Neurons vary in structure, function, and genetic makeup. Given the sheer number of neurons,
there are thousands of different types, much like there are thousands of species of living
organisms on Earth.

In terms of function, scientists classify neurons into three broad types: sensory, motor, and
interneurons.

SENSORY NEURONS
 Sensory neurons help you taste, smell, hear, see, and feel things around you
 Sensory neurons are triggered by physical and chemical inputs from your environment. Sound, touch,
heat, and light are physical inputs. Smell and taste are chemical inputs.
 For example, stepping on hot sand activates sensory neurons in the soles of your feet. Those neurons
send a message to your brain, which makes you aware of the heat.

STAN BORN TO BEAT STAN BORN TO BEAT STAN BORN TO BEAT STAN BORN TO BEAT STAN BTOB <3<3
MOTOR NEURONS

Motor neurons play a role in movement, including voluntary and involuntary movements. These
neurons allow the brain and spinal cord to communicate with muscles, organs, and glands all
over the body.

There are two types of motor neurons: lower and upper. Lower motor neurons carry signals from
the spinal cord to the smooth muscles and the skeletal muscles. Upper motor neurons carry
signals between your brain and spinal cord.

When you eat, for instance, lower motor neurons in your spinal cord send signals to the smooth
muscles in your esophagus, stomach, and intestines. These muscles contract, which allows food
to move through your digestive tract.

INTERNEURONS

Interneurons are neural intermediaries found in your brain and spinal cord. They’re the most
common type of neuron. They pass signals from sensory neurons and other interneurons to motor
neurons and other interneurons. Often, they form complex circuits that help you to react to
external stimuli.

For instance, when you touch something hot, sensory neurons in your fingertips send a signal to
interneurons in your spinal cord. Some interneurons pass the signal on to motor neurons in your
hand, which allows you to move your hand away. Other interneurons send a signal to the pain
center in your brain, and you experience pain.

DISEASES OF BERVOUS SYSTEM

 SHINGLES
Shingles is a viral infection that causes a painful rash. Although shingles can occur anywhere on
your body, it most often appears as a single stripe of blisters that wraps around either the left or
the right side of your torso.

Shingles is caused by the varicella-zoster virus — the same virus that causes chickenpox. After
you've had chickenpox, the virus lies inactive in nerve tissue near your spinal cord and brain.
Years later, the virus may reactivate as shingles.

While it isn't a life-threatening condition, shingles can be very painful. Vaccines can help reduce
the risk of shingles, while early treatment can help shorten a shingles infection and lessen the
chance of complications.

STAN BORN TO BEAT STAN BORN TO BEAT STAN BORN TO BEAT STAN BORN TO BEAT STAN BTOB <3<3
 SYMPTOMS

 The signs and symptoms of shingles usually affect

only a small section of one side of your body.

These signs and symptoms may include:

 Pain, burning, numbness or tingling

 Sensitivity to touch

 A red rash that begins a few days after the pain

 Fluid-filled blisters that break open and crust over

 Itching

Some people also experience:

 Fever

 Headache

 Sensitivity to light

 Fatigue
Pain is usually the first symptom of shingles. For some, it can be intense. Depending on the
location of the pain, it can sometimes be mistaken for a symptom of problems affecting the heart,
lungs or kidneys. Some people experience shingles pain without ever developing the rash.

Most commonly, the shingles rash develops as a stripe of blisters that wraps around either the
left or right side of your torso. Sometimes the shingles rash occurs around one eye or on one side
of the neck or face.

CAUSES
Shingles is caused by the varicella-zoster virus — the same virus that causes chickenpox.
Anyone who's had chickenpox may develop shingles. After you recover from chickenpox, the
virus can enter your nervous system and lie dormant for years. Eventually, it may reactivate and
travel along nerve pathways to your skin — producing shingles. But, not everyone who's had
chickenpox will develop shingles. The reason for shingles is unclear. But it may be due to
lowered immunity to infections as you grow older. Shingles is more common in older adults and
in people who have weakened immune systems.

STAN BORN TO BEAT STAN BORN TO BEAT STAN BORN TO BEAT STAN BORN TO BEAT STAN BTOB <3<3
PREVENTION

Two vaccines may help prevent shingles — the chickenpox (varicella) vaccine and the shingles
(varicella-zoster) vaccine.

CHICKENPOX VACCINE

The varicella vaccine (Varivax) has become a routine childhood immunization to prevent
chickenpox. The vaccine is also recommended for adults who've never had chickenpox. Though
the vaccine doesn't guarantee you won't get chickenpox or shingles, it can reduce your chances
of complications and reduce the severity of the disease.

SHINGLES VACCINE

People looking to receive the shingles vaccine have two options: Zostavax and Shingrix.

Zostavax, which was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2006, has been
shown to offer protection against shingles for about five years. It's a live vaccine given as a
single injection, usually in the upper arm.

Shingrix was approved by the FDA in 2017 and is the preferred alternative to Zostavax. Studies
suggest Shingrix offers protection against shingles beyond five years. It's a nonliving vaccine
made of a virus component, and is given in two doses, with two to six months between doses.

 DYSLEXIA
Dyslexia is a learning disorder that involves difficulty reading due to problems identifying
speech sounds and learning how they relate to letters and words (decoding). Also called reading
disability, dyslexia affects areas of the brain that process language.

People with dyslexia have normal intelligence and usually have normal vision. Most children
with dyslexia can succeed in school with tutoring or a specialized education program. Emotional
support also plays an important role.

Though there's no cure for dyslexia, early assessment and intervention result in the best outcome.
Sometimes dyslexia goes undiagnosed for years and isn't recognized until adulthood, but it's
never too late to seek help.

SYMPTOMS

Signs of dyslexia can be difficult to recognize before your child enters school, but some early
clues may indicate a problem. Once your child reaches school age, your child's teacher may be
the first to notice a problem. Severity varies, but the condition often becomes apparent as a child
starts learning to read.

STAN BORN TO BEAT STAN BORN TO BEAT STAN BORN TO BEAT STAN BORN TO BEAT STAN BTOB <3<3
Signs that a young child may be at risk of dyslexia include:

 Late talking
 Learning new words slowly
 Problems forming words correctly, such as reversing sounds in words or confusing words
that sound alike
 Problems remembering or naming letters, numbers and colors
 Difficulty learning nursery rhymes or playing rhyming games

Once your child is in school, dyslexia signs and symptoms may become more apparent,
including:

 Reading well below the expected level for age

 Problems processing and understanding what he or she hears
 Difficulty finding the right word or forming answers to questions
 Problems remembering the sequence of things
 Difficulty seeing (and occasionally hearing) similarities and differences in letters and
words
 Inability to sound out the pronunciation of an unfamiliar word
 Difficulty spelling
 Spending an unusually long time completing tasks that involve reading or writing
 Avoiding activities that involve reading

Dyslexia signs in teens and adults are similar to those in children. Some common dyslexia signs
and symptoms in teens and adults include:

 Difficulty reading, including reading aloud

 Slow and labor-intensive reading and writing
 Problems spelling
 Avoiding activities that involve reading
 Mispronouncing names or words, or problems retrieving words
 Trouble understanding jokes or expressions that have a meaning not easily understood
from the specific words (idioms), such as "piece of cake" meaning "easy"
 Spending an unusually long time completing tasks that involve reading or writing
 Difficulty summarizing a story
 Trouble learning a foreign language
 Difficulty memorizing
 Difficulty doing math problems

CAUSES
Dyslexia tends to run in families. It appears to be linked to certain genes that affect how the brain
processes reading and language, as well as risk factors in the environment.

STAN BORN TO BEAT STAN BORN TO BEAT STAN BORN TO BEAT STAN BORN TO BEAT STAN BTOB <3<3
  PARKINSON’S DISEASE

Parkinson's disease is a progressive nervous system disorder that affects movement. Symptoms
start gradually, sometimes starting with a barely noticeable tremor in just one hand. Tremors are
common, but the disorder also commonly causes stiffness or slowing of movement. In the early
stages of Parkinson's disease, your face may show little or no expression. Your arms may not
swing when you walk. Your speech may become soft or slurred. Parkinson's disease symptoms
worsen as your condition progresses over time. Although Parkinson's disease can't be cured,
medications might significantly improve your symptoms. Occasionally, your doctor may suggest
surgery to regulate certain regions of your brain and improve your symptoms.

SYMPTOMS

Parkinson's disease signs and symptoms can be different for everyone. Early signs may be mild
and go unnoticed. Symptoms often begin on one side of your body and usually remain worse on
that side, even after symptoms begin to affect both sides.

Parkinson's signs and symptoms may include:

 Tremor. A tremor, or shaking, usually begins in a limb, often your hand or fingers. You
may a rub your thumb and forefinger back-and-forth, known as a pill-rolling tremor.
Your hand may tremor when it's at rest.
 Slowed movement (bradykinesia). Over time, Parkinson's disease may slow your
movement, making simple tasks difficult and time-consuming. Your steps may become
shorter when you walk. It may be difficult to get out of a chair. You may drag your feet
as you try to walk.
 Rigid muscles. Muscle stiffness may occur in any part of your body. The stiff muscles
can be painful and limit your range of motion.
 Impaired posture and balance. Your posture may become stooped, or you may have
balance problems as a result of Parkinson's disease.
 Loss of automatic movements. You may have a decreased ability to perform
unconscious movements, including blinking, smiling or swinging your arms when you
walk.
 Speech changes. You may speak softly, quickly, slur or hesitate before talking. Your
speech may be more of a monotone rather than with the usual inflections.
 Writing changes. It may become hard to write, and your writing may appear small.

CAUSES

In Parkinson's disease, certain nerve cells (neurons) in the brain gradually break down or die.
Many of the symptoms are due to a loss of neurons that produce a chemical messenger in your
brain called dopamine. When dopamine levels decrease, it causes abnormal brain activity,
leading to symptoms of Parkinson's disease.

The cause of Parkinson's disease is unknown, but several factors appear to play a role, including:

STAN BORN TO BEAT STAN BORN TO BEAT STAN BORN TO BEAT STAN BORN TO BEAT STAN BTOB <3<3
  Your genes. Researchers have identified specific genetic mutations that can cause
Parkinson's disease. But these are uncommon except in rare cases with many family
members affected by Parkinson's disease.

However, certain gene variations appear to increase the risk of Parkinson's disease but with a
relatively small risk of Parkinson's disease for each of these genetic markers.

 Environmental triggers. Exposure to certain toxins or environmental factors may

increase the risk of later Parkinson's disease, but the risk is relatively small.

Researchers have also noted that many changes occur in the brains of people with Parkinson's
disease, although it's not clear why these changes occur. These changes include:

 The presence of Lewy bodies. Clumps of specific substances within brain cells are
microscopic markers of Parkinson's disease. These are called Lewy bodies, and
researchers believe these Lewy bodies hold an important clue to the cause of Parkinson's
disease.
 Alpha-synuclein is found within Lewy bodies. Although many substances are found
within Lewy bodies, scientists believe an important one is the natural and widespread
protein called alpha-synuclein (a-synuclein). It's found in all Lewy bodies in a clumped
form that cells can't break down. This is currently an important focus among Parkinson's
disease researchers.

PREVENTION

Because the cause of Parkinson's is unknown, proven ways to prevent the disease also remain a
mystery. Some research has shown that regular aerobic exercise might reduce the risk of
Parkinson's disease.

Some other research has shown that people who drink caffeine — which is found in coffee, tea
and cola — get Parkinson's disease less often than those who don't drink it. However, it is still
not known whether caffeine actually protects against getting Parkinson's, or is related in some
other way. Currently there is not enough evidence to suggest drinking caffeinated beverages to
protect against Parkinson's. Green tea is also related to a reduced risk of developing Parkinson's
disease.

 CEREBRAL PALSY

Cerebral palsy is a disorder of movement, muscle tone or posture that is caused by damage that
occurs to the immature, developing brain, most often before birth. Signs and symptoms appear
during infancy or preschool years. In general, cerebral palsy causes impaired movement
associated with abnormal reflexes, floppiness or rigidity of the limbs and trunk, abnormal
posture, involuntary movements, unsteady walking, or some combination of these.

STAN BORN TO BEAT STAN BORN TO BEAT STAN BORN TO BEAT STAN BORN TO BEAT STAN BTOB <3<3
People with cerebral palsy may have problems swallowing and commonly have eye muscle
imbalance, in which the eyes don't focus on the same object. People with cerebral palsy also may
suffer reduced range of motion at various joints of their bodies due to muscle stiffness. Cerebral
palsy's effect on functional abilities varies greatly. Some affected people can walk while others
can't. Some people show normal or near-normal intellectual capacity, but others may have
intellectual disabilities. Epilepsy, blindness or deafness also may be present.

SYMPTOMS
Signs and symptoms can vary greatly. Movement and coordination problems associated with
cerebral palsy may include:

 Variations in muscle tone, such as being either too stiff or too floppy
 Stiff muscles and exaggerated reflexes (spasticity)
 Stiff muscles with normal reflexes (rigidity)
 Lack of muscle coordination (ataxia)
 Tremors or involuntary movements
 Slow, writhing movements (athetosis)
 Delays in reaching motor skills milestones, such as pushing up on arms, sitting up alone
or crawling
 Favoring one side of the body, such as reaching with only one hand or dragging a leg
while crawling
 Difficulty walking, such as walking on toes, a crouched gait, a scissors-like gait with
knees crossing, a wide gait or an asymmetrical gait
 Excessive drooling or problems with swallowing
 Difficulty with sucking or eating
 Delays in speech development or difficulty speaking
 Difficulty with precise motions, such as picking up a crayon or spoon
 Seizures

The disability associated with cerebral palsy may be limited primarily to one limb or one side of
the body, or it may affect the whole body. The brain disorder causing cerebral palsy doesn't
change with time, so the symptoms usually don't worsen with age. However, muscle shortening
and muscle rigidity may worsen if not treated aggressively.

Brain abnormalities associated with cerebral palsy also may contribute to other neurological
problems. People with cerebral palsy may also have:

 Difficulty with vision and hearing

 Intellectual disabilities
 Seizures
 Abnormal touch or pain perceptions
 Oral diseases
 Mental health (psychiatric) conditions
 Urinary incontinence

STAN BORN TO BEAT STAN BORN TO BEAT STAN BORN TO BEAT STAN BORN TO BEAT STAN BTOB <3<3
CAUSES

Cerebral palsy is caused by an abnormality or disruption in brain development, usually before a

child is born. In many cases, the exact trigger isn't known. Factors that may lead to problems
with brain development include:

 Mutations in genes that lead to abnormal brain development

 Maternal infections that affect the developing fetus
 Fetal stroke, a disruption of blood supply to the developing brain
 Infant infections that cause inflammation in or around the brain
 Traumatic head injury to an infant from a motor vehicle accident or fall
 Lack of oxygen to the brain (asphyxia) related to difficult labor or delivery,
although birth-related asphyxia is much less commonly a cause than historically
thought

PREVENTION

Most cases of cerebral palsy can't be prevented, but you can lessen risks. If you're pregnant or
planning to become pregnant, you can take these steps to keep healthy and minimize pregnancy
complications:

 Make sure you're vaccinated. Vaccination against diseases such as rubella may prevent an
infection that could cause fetal brain damage.
 Take care of yourself. The healthier you are heading into a pregnancy, the less likely
you'll be to develop an infection that may result in cerebral palsy.
 Seek early and continuous prenatal care. Regular visits to your doctor during your
pregnancy are a good way to reduce health risks to you and your unborn baby. Seeing
your doctor regularly can help prevent premature birth, low birth weight and infections.
 Practice good child safety. Prevent head injuries by providing your child with a car seat,
bicycle helmet, safety rails on beds and appropriate supervision.

 EPILEPSY
Epilepsy is a central nervous system (neurological) disorder in which brain activity becomes
abnormal, causing seizures or periods of unusual behavior, sensations, and sometimes loss of
awareness. Anyone can develop epilepsy. Epilepsy affects both males and females of all races,
ethnic backgrounds and ages.

CAUSES

Epilepsy has no identifiable cause in about half the people with the condition. In the other half,
the condition may be traced to various factors, including:

STAN BORN TO BEAT STAN BORN TO BEAT STAN BORN TO BEAT STAN BORN TO BEAT STAN BTOB <3<3
 • Genetic influence. Some types of epilepsy, which are categorized by the type of seizure
you experience or the part of the brain that is affected, run in families. In these cases, it's
likely that there's a genetic influence.
Researchers have linked some types of epilepsy to specific genes, but for most people,
genes are only part of the cause of epilepsy. Certain genes may make a person more
sensitive to environmental conditions that trigger seizures.

• Head trauma. Head trauma as a result of a car accident or other traumatic injury can
cause epilepsy.

• Brain conditions. Brain conditions that cause damage to the brain, such as brain tumors
or strokes, can cause epilepsy. Stroke is a leading cause of epilepsy in adults older than
age 35.

• Infectious diseases. Infectious diseases, such as meningitis, AIDS and viral encephalitis,
can cause epilepsy.

• Prenatal injury. Before birth, babies are sensitive to brain damage that could be caused
by several factors, such as an infection in the mother, poor nutrition or oxygen
deficiencies. This brain damage can result in epilepsy or cerebral palsy.

• Developmental disorders. Epilepsy can sometimes be associated with developmental

disorders, such as autism and neurofibromatosis.

COMMON CAUSES OF SEIZURES BY AGE:

In Newborns:

• Brain malformations

• Lack of oxygen during birth

• Low levels of blood sugar, blood calcium, blood magnesium or other eletrolyte problems

• Inborn errors of metabolism

• Intracranial hemorrhage

• Maternal drug use

STAN BORN TO BEAT STAN BORN TO BEAT STAN BORN TO BEAT STAN BORN TO BEAT STAN BTOB <3<3
In Infants and Children:

• Fever (febrile seizures)

• Brain tumor (rarely)

• Infections

In Children and Adults:

• Congenital conditions (Down's syndrome; Angelman's syndrome; tuberous sclerosis and

neurofibromatosis)

• Genetic factors

• Progressive brain disease (rare)

• Head trauma

In Seniors:

• Stroke

• Alzheimer's disease

• Trauma

SIGNS

• Recognizing seizures in babies and infants is especially difficult, because they cannot tell
you how they feel or what they remember.
• Short attention blackouts, dazed behavior, memory gaps, mumbling or no response
• Sudden falls, frequent stumbling or unusual clumsiness
• Repeated, unusual movements such as head nodding or rapid blinking
• Sudden stomach pain followed by confusion and sleepiness
• Unusual sleepiness and irritability when woken up
• Frequent complaints that things look, sound, taste, smell or feel "funny"
• Sudden, repeated fear or anger
• Clusters of (repeated) "jackknife" movements by babies who are sitting down
• Clusters of grabbing movements with both arms in babies lying on their backs

STAN BORN TO BEAT STAN BORN TO BEAT STAN BORN TO BEAT STAN BORN TO BEAT STAN BTOB <3<3
TREATMENT

Seizure Medication

• Your doctor will likely want you to try this first. It works for about 7 out of 10 people
with epilepsy. Epilepsy medications, sometimes called anti-seizure or anticonvulsant
medications, change the way your brain cells work and send messages to each other.
• The kind of medication your doctor suggests depends on a few things:
• The type of seizures you have
• How likely it is you’ll have more seizures
• Your age
• Your sex
• Other medical conditions you have
• If you want to get pregnant
• Drugs that work for one person might not work for another. You might have to try more
than one. Most people who take medication for epilepsy find a good fit on the first or
second try.

Side Effects

Some are more severe than others. Mild side effects can include:

• Tiredness
• Dizziness
• Weight gain
• Thinning bones
• Rashes
• Clumsiness
• Trouble talking
• Trouble remembering things
• Trouble thinking

More serious side effects can be:

• Severe rash
• Inflammation in organs like your liver
• Depression

Ketogenic Diet

• This diet is high in fats and low in carbohydrates. Your doctor may suggest it, depending
on the type of seizures you have. But it isn’t something you should try to do yourself.
Talk to your doctor and a nutritionist first.
• Usually the ketogenic diet is given to children when medication hasn’t helped their
seizures, but some studies show that it can also work for adults.
• It can make you feel sluggish at first. Later side effects may include:

STAN BORN TO BEAT STAN BORN TO BEAT STAN BORN TO BEAT STAN BORN TO BEAT STAN BTOB <3<3
 • Kidney stones
• High cholesterol
• Dehydration
• Constipation
• Weight gain
• Broken bones

Nerve Stimulation

There are two kinds of nerve stimulation:

• Vagus nerve stimulation. This nerve runs from your chest and abdomen, through your
neck, and up to the lower part of your brain. It controls things that are automatic in your
body, like your heartbeat.
Your doctor will put a small gizmo called a vagus nerve stimulator under the skin of your
chest, and connect it to the nerve.
The device sends small bursts of electricity through the nerve to your brain. You’ll
probably still have to take medication.
• Responsive neurostimulation. This treatment involves a small gadget called a
neurostimulator. Your doctor puts it under your scalp. It looks for patterns in
your brain activity that can lead to a seizure. When the neurostimulator sees one of these
patterns, it sends out a little pulse to interrupt it.

Surgery
There are two main kinds:
• Resective surgery. The surgeon will remove the part of your brain that causes the
seizures. This surgery is most often done when the part of the brain causing the seizures
is very small, has very good boundaries, and doesn’t control things like your speech,
movement, sight, or hearing.
• Disconnective surgery. Instead of removing part of your brain, the surgeon will cut the
paths between the nerves in your brain that are involved in your seizures.

 MENINGITIS
Meningitis is an inflammation of the membranes (meninges) surrounding your brain and spinal
cord. The swelling from meningitis typically triggers symptoms such as headache, fever and a
stiff neck. Most cases of meningitis in the United States are caused by a viral infection, but
bacterial, parasitic and fungal infections are other causes. Some cases of meningitis improve
without treatment in a few weeks. Others can be life-threatening and require emergency
antibiotic treatment. Seek immediate medical care if you suspect that someone has meningitis.
Early treatment of bacterial meningitis can prevent serious complications.

STAN BORN TO BEAT STAN BORN TO BEAT STAN BORN TO BEAT STAN BORN TO BEAT STAN BTOB <3<3
SYMPTOMS
Early meningitis symptoms may mimic the flu (influenza). Symptoms may develop over several
hours or over a few days.
Possible signs and symptoms in anyone older than the age of 2 include:
 Sudden high fever
 Stiff neck
 Severe headache that seems different than normal
 Headache with nausea or vomiting
 Confusion or difficulty concentrating
 Seizures
 Sleepiness or difficulty waking
 Sensitivity to light
 No appetite or thirst
 Skin rash (sometimes, such as in meningococcal meningitis)

 ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE
Alzheimer's disease is a progressive disorder that causes brain cells to waste away (degenerate)
and die. Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of dementia — a continuous decline in
thinking, behavioral and social skills that disrupts a person's ability to function independently.
The early signs of the disease may be forgetting recent events or conversations. As the disease
progresses, a person with Alzheimer's disease will develop severe memory impairment and lose
the ability to carry out everyday tasks.
Current Alzheimer's disease medications may temporarily improve symptoms or slow the rate of
decline. These treatments can sometimes help people with Alzheimer's disease maximize
function and maintain independence for a time. Different programs and services can help support
people with Alzheimer's disease and their caregivers.
There is no treatment that cures Alzheimer's disease or alters the disease process in the brain. In
advanced stages of the disease, complications from severe loss of brain function — such as
dehydration, malnutrition or infection — result in death.

STAN BORN TO BEAT STAN BORN TO BEAT STAN BORN TO BEAT STAN BORN TO BEAT STAN BTOB <3<3
Symptoms
Memory loss is the key symptom of Alzheimer's disease. An early sign of the disease is usually
difficulty remembering recent events or conversations. As the disease progresses, memory
impairments worsen and other symptoms develop.
At first, a person with Alzheimer's disease may be aware of having difficulty with remembering
things and organizing thoughts. A family member or friend may be more likely to notice how the
symptoms worsen.
Brain changes associated with Alzheimer's disease lead to growing trouble with:

Memory
Everyone has occasional memory lapses. It's normal to lose track of where you put your keys or
forget the name of an acquaintance. But the memory loss associated with Alzheimer's disease
persists and worsens, affecting the ability to function at work or at home.

People with Alzheimer's may:

 Repeat statements and questions over and over
 Forget conversations, appointments or events, and not remember them later
 Routinely misplace possessions, often putting them in illogical locations
 Get lost in familiar places
 Eventually forget the names of family members and everyday objects
 Have trouble finding the right words to identify objects, express thoughts or take part in
conversations

Thinking and reasoning

Alzheimer's disease causes difficulty concentrating and thinking, especially about abstract
concepts such as numbers.
Multitasking is especially difficult, and it may be challenging to manage finances, balance
checkbooks and pay bills on time. These difficulties may progress to an inability to recognize
and deal with numbers.

Making judgments and decisions

The ability to make reasonable decisions and judgments in everyday situations will decline. For
example, a person may make poor or uncharacteristic choices in social interactions or wear
clothes that are inappropriate for the weather. It may be more difficult to respond effectively to
everyday problems, such as food burning on the stove or unexpected driving situations.

Planning and performing familiar tasks

STAN BORN TO BEAT STAN BORN TO BEAT STAN BORN TO BEAT STAN BORN TO BEAT STAN BTOB <3<3
Once-routine activities that require sequential steps, such as planning and cooking a meal or
playing a favorite game, become a struggle as the disease progresses. Eventually, people with
advanced Alzheimer's may forget how to perform basic tasks such as dressing and bathing.
Changes in personality and behavior
Brain changes that occur in Alzheimer's disease can affect moods and behaviors. Problems may
include the following:
 Depression
 Apathy
 Social withdrawal
 Mood swings
 Distrust in others
 Irritability and aggressiveness
 Changes in sleeping habits
 Wandering
 Loss of inhibitions
 Delusions, such as believing something has been stolen

Preserved skills
Many important skills are preserved for longer periods even while symptoms worsen. Preserved
skills may include reading or listening to books, telling stories and reminiscing, singing, listening
to music, dancing, drawing, or doing crafts.
These skills may be preserved longer because they are controlled by parts of the brain affected
later in the course of the disease.

Causes
Scientists believe that for most people, Alzheimer's disease is caused by a combination of
genetic, lifestyle and environmental factors that affect the brain over time.
Less than 1 percent of the time, Alzheimer's is caused by specific genetic changes that virtually
guarantee a person will develop the disease. These rare occurrences usually result in disease
onset in middle age.
The exact causes of Alzheimer's disease aren't fully understood, but at its core are problems with
brain proteins that fail to function normally, disrupt the work of brain cells (neurons) and unleash
a series of toxic events. Neurons are damaged, lose connections to each other and eventually die.

STAN BORN TO BEAT STAN BORN TO BEAT STAN BORN TO BEAT STAN BORN TO BEAT STAN BTOB <3<3
The damage most often starts in the region of the brain that controls memory, but the process
begins years before the first symptoms. The loss of neurons spreads in a somewhat predictable
pattern to other regions of the brains. By the late stage of the disease, the brain has shrunk
significantly.
Researchers are focused on the role of two proteins:
 Plaques. Beta-amyloid is a leftover fragment of a larger protein. When these fragments
cluster together, they appear to have a toxic effect on neurons and to disrupt cell-to-cell
communication. These clusters form larger deposits called amyloid plaques, which also
include other cellular debris.
 Tangles. Tau proteins play a part in a neuron's internal support and transport system to
carry nutrients and other essential materials. In Alzheimer's disease, tau proteins change
shape and organize themselves into structures called neurofibrillary tangles. The tangles
disrupt the transport system and are toxic to cells.

Prevention
Alzheimer's disease is not a preventable condition. However, a number of lifestyle risk factors
for Alzheimer's can be modified. Evidence suggests that changes in diet, exercise and habits —
steps to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease — may also lower your risk of developing
Alzheimer's disease and other disorders that cause dementia. Heart-healthy lifestyle choices that
may reduce the risk of Alzheimer's include the following:

 Exercise regularly
 Eat a diet of fresh produce, healthy oils and foods low in saturated fat
 Follow treatment guidelines to manage high blood pressure, diabetes and high cholesterol
 If you smoke, ask your doctor for help to quit smoking
Studies have shown that preserved thinking skills later in life and a reduced risk of Alzheimer's
disease are associated with participating in social events, reading, dancing, playing board games,
creating art, playing an instrument, and other activities that require mental and social
engagement.

STAN BORN TO BEAT STAN BORN TO BEAT STAN BORN TO BEAT STAN BORN TO BEAT STAN BTOB <3<3