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Alzheimer’s disease (AD); Alzheimer disease

A form of dementia (progressive mental deterioration) resulting from atrophy of the frontal and occipital lobes of the brain. Alzheimer’s disease is marked by progressive, irreversible memory loss; deterioration of intellect; speech and gait (movement) disturbances; apathy; and disorientation.

Amnesia

Complete or partial loss of memories. Antegrade amnesia involves losing the ability to form new memories after an event. Retrograde amnesia is the loss of memories from before an event. Amnesia can be caused by traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), as well as mental illnesses such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)

A disease marked by muscular weakness and atrophy with involuntary contractions and excessive reflexes; caused by the degeneration of motor neurons in the spinal cord and in the brain’s medulla and cortex.

Anxiety disorders

A group of mental illnesses that share the core characteristic of anxiety (excessive worry, nervousness, or uneasiness).

Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)

An anxiety disorder characterized by excessive worry that is not restricted to specific situations or objects; often associated with physical symptoms such as heart palpitations, chest pain, tremors, sweating, nausea, or headaches.

Panic disorder (PD)

Anxiety disorder characterized by sudden, recurring attacks of intense anxiety and fear; can include physical symptoms that imitate a heart attack, as well as a general sense of loss of control.

Phobia

Exaggerated fear of a specific object or situation that causes anxiety and panic.

Social anxiety disorder

Anxiety disorder characterized by increased anxiety during social interactions.

Astrocytoma

Tumor of the neuroglial (glial) tissue.

Aura

A subjective sensation that often occurs before a migraine or seizure. For example, a person with epilepsy may experience an aura consisting of flashing lights, numbness, tingling, or a peculiar odor prior to a seizure.

Bell’s palsy

Unilateral (one-sided) paralysis of the nerves that control the facial muscles, causing one side of the face to droop. Bell’s palsy, usually a temporary condition, is thought to be caused by a virus.

Brain tumor

Any intracranial mass, which may be neoplastic (a new growth), cystic (a sac containing fluid), or inflammatory (an abscess).

Cerebral aneurysm

Abnormal, localized dilation of a blood vessel in the cerebrum. Usually, the dilation occurs in an artery. Cerebral aneurysms may place pressure on a nerve or other brain tissues and may rupture, causing severe complications.

Cerebral contusion

Bruising in the cerebral tissue.

Cerebrovascular accident (CVA)

Death of brain tissue that occurs when an arterial blockage or arterial rupture prevents blood flow to the brain; commonly called stroke.

Hemorrhagic stroke

Type of CVA that occurs when a weakened blood vessel, such as an aneurysm, ruptures and bleeds into the surrounding tissue of the brain.

Ischemic stroke

Type of CVA that occurs when a blood vessel that supplies blood to the brain becomes occluded (blocked). The root of ischemic stroke is atherosclerosis (buildup of fatty plaque deposits in the arteries).

Coma

A state of extended unconsciousness caused by a medical crisis, such as a traumatic brain injury (TBI), stroke, infection, or illness (diabetes, for example).

Convulsion

A sudden, abnormal, involuntary contraction (or series of contractions) of the muscles. Some seizures do not involve convulsions.

Delirium

A state of mental confusion and agitation characterized by disorientation of time and place, usually accompanied by hallucinations and illusions.

Dementia

A condition of progressive mental deterioration caused by organic brain disease (that is, caused by tissue changes in the brain). Dementia is characterized by memory loss, difficulties with language expression, and inability to perform ordinary daily activities of living.

Developmental disabilities

Complex, long-term conditions that develop before adulthood and affect physical development, intellectual development, or both.

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)

Condition in which a person is frequently distracted, shows hyperactivity, and displays a lack of impulse control.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD)

Developmental disability characterized by difficulty communicating with others and focusing beyond oneself; inability to maintain eye contact; motor activity that is repetitious; and preoccupation with small objects.

Cerebral palsy (CP)

Disability that affects movement and muscle tone; caused by a condition in, or trauma to, the brain before birth.

Dyslexia

A learning disorder characterized by difficulty in recognizing and comprehending written language.

Intellectual disability (ID)

Condition of below-average intelligence resulting in the inability to develop skills necessary for daily living. Also called intellectual development disorder (IDD).

Spina bifida (SB)

Condition in which part of the membrane covering the spinal cord protrudes through a gap in the spine.

Eating disorders

A group of mental illnesses characterized by an unhealthy focus on weight and food.

Anorexia nervosa

An eating disorder characterized by severely restricted eating, an intense fear of gaining weight, and a distorted perception of body image.

Binge-eating disorder

The most common eating disorder in the United States; characterized by compulsive overeating, including a sense of loss of control.

Bulimia nervosa

Eating disorder characterized by binge eating followed by purging through induced vomiting, the use of laxatives, and/or excessive exercise.

Epidural hematoma (EDH)

A mass of blood that forms between the skull and the dura mater as a result of the brain colliding against the skull, such as from a head injury or a fall.

Epilepsy

A neurological disorder of the central nervous system in which the activity of neural cells in the brain becomes disrupted, causing seizures, unusual sensations, repeated twitching of the limbs, and occasionally loss of consciousness.

Guillain-Barré syndrome; GB syndrome

Polyneuritis, or inflammation of multiple peripheral nerves. The condition is marked by progressive muscle weakness of the extremities, which may lead to paralysis.

Headache (HA)

Diffuse pain in one or more parts of the head; unconfined to a particular area of nerve distribution.

Hemiplegia

Paralysis of one side of the body; also called hemiparesis.

Hydrocephalus

Accumulation of excess cerebrospinal fluid inside the ventricles of the brain, which causes cephalomegaly (enlargement of the head) and may cause brain damage.

Meningitis

Inflammation of the meninges, usually due to an infection.

Meningocele

Congenital hernia in which the meninges protrude through an opening of the skull or spinal cord.

Migraine

A headache that produces intense throbbing and pain in one area of the head; typically accompanied by nausea and/or vomiting and hypersensitivity to light and sound.

Mood disorders

A group of mental illnesses marked by depression that may alternate with periods of elation.

Bipolar disorder

A mental illness characterized by alternating periods of depression and mania.

Depression

A mood disorder marked by persistent feelings of sadness, worthlessness, and lack of interest in daily activities.

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD)

A form of depression that occurs during the fall and winter seasons as a result of less exposure to natural sunlight.

Multiple sclerosis (MS)

A chronic, slow-progressing disease of the central nervous system marked by the development of thin, demyelinated (without myelin) glial patches called plaques.

Myasthenia gravis (MG)

A disease of the skeletal muscles caused by disruption in neural communication between the muscles and the nerves; marked by severe weakness and fatigue.

Myelomeningocele

A form of spina bifida marked by protrusion of a portion of the spinal cord and the meninges through the spine.

Narcolepsy

A condition characterized by an overwhelming tendency to fall asleep and sudden sleep attacks; characterized by changes in the brain.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)

Mental illness in which irrational thoughts and fears cause one to perform repetitive actions.

Paralysis

Temporary or permanent loss of voluntary movement (motor function).

Paraplegia

Loss of voluntary movement in the lower half of the body, including both legs; often as a result of spinal cord injury or disease.

Paresthesia

Sensation of numbness, prickling, or tingling, usually in the upper or lower extremities; caused by irritation of sensory nerves.

Parkinson’s disease (PD)

Progressive disorder of the nervous system marked by tremor, slow movement, rigidity, and gait problems.

Poliomyelitis (Polio)

Viral disease that causes inflammation of the gray matter of the spinal cord, resulting in muscle weakness and sometimes paralysis.

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

Condition triggered by exposure to a traumatic event. Marked by recurring memories, flashbacks, and emotional numbness.

Psychotic disorders (psychoses)

A group of mental disorders marked by a loss of reality, including hallucinations and delusions.

Postpartum psychosis

Rare psychiatric disorder that occurs in women following childbirth, marked by confusion, hallucinations, and paranoia.

Schizoaffective disorder

A condition that includes symptoms of both schizophrenia and mood disorders (bipolar or depression).

Schizophrenia

A mental disorder marked by abnormalities in thinking, perception, emotions, and behavior. A common symptom is delusions (false beliefs).

Reye’s syndrome

A rare, serious illness that causes brain and liver malfunction, usually following a viral infection like chickenpox or influenza.

Seizure

Abnormal electrical activity in the brain that causes physical and mental changes, including convulsions.

Focal seizure

Seizure activity that originates in one area of the brain.

Grand mal seizure

A severe seizure characterized by violent muscle contractions and loss of consciousness.

Petit mal seizure

A type of seizure, most common in children, characterized by brief lapses of consciousness.

Shingles

A painful, blistering rash caused by reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus (the same virus that causes chickenpox).

Somnambulism

Sleepwalking, which typically occurs during the deeper stages of sleep and may result in unintentional activities such as walking or eating.

Substance use disorders

Disorders related to the harmful use of drugs, alcohol, or other substances that impair physical and mental health.

Syncope

Loss of consciousness, commonly called fainting, which occurs when blood flow to the brain is temporarily reduced.

Transient ischemic attack (TIA)

A temporary interruption of blood flow to the brain; often called a mini-stroke. A TIA is a warning sign for future stroke risks.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI)

Result of a violent impact to the head. Injuries are classified as mild, moderate, or severe with increasing levels of damage to the nervous system, particularly to the cells and tissues of the brain.

Concussion

A traumatic brain injury (TBI) resulting from a blow to the head or violent shaking of the head and upper body. A concussion causes partial or complete loss of brain functions, which can result in memory loss, impaired coordination, difficulty with balance, and dizziness.

Contusion

A bruise to the brain itself. Localized trauma causes bleeding on the brain.

Subdural hematoma (SDH)

A mass of blood between the dura mater and the arachnoid mater of the brain; the most common type of traumatic brain injury (TBI).

Tremor

An involuntary, repetitive trembling of the body or limbs.

Unconsciousness

Lack of awareness of oneself and the inability to respond to environmental stimuli due to injury, shock, or oxygen deprivation.