Neurological Dysfunction

Nervous System

The complex network of nerve cells and fibers that transmits nerve impulses between parts of the body, responsible for coordinating actions and sensory information.

Neurologist

A medical doctor specializing in diagnosing and treating disorders of the nervous system.

Neuroanatomist

A scientist who studies the structure of the nervous system, including the brain and spinal cord.

Neurosurgeon

A surgeon specializing in operations on the nervous system, particularly the brain and spinal cord.

Cognitive Function

The mental processes involved in gaining knowledge and comprehension, including thinking, knowing, memory, and judgment.

Hypoxia

A condition in which there is a deficiency of oxygen reaching the tissues, which can affect brain function.

Hypoglycemia

A condition characterized by abnormally low blood sugar levels, which can lead to confusion and loss of consciousness.

Coma

A state of prolonged unconsciousness in which a person cannot be awakened and fails to respond to stimuli.

Arousal

The state of being awake and responsive to the environment, a function primarily of the reticular activating system.

Stupor

A state of near-unconsciousness or insensibility, where a person can be awakened only by vigorous stimuli.

Paresis

A condition of muscular weakness caused by nerve damage or disease, resulting in partial paralysis.

Quadriplegia

A condition resulting from spinal cord injury that leads to paralysis of all four limbs.

Spasticity

A condition in which certain muscles are continuously contracted, leading to stiffness or tightness.

Brain Death

A legal and clinical definition of death characterized by the irreversible cessation of all brain activity, including brainstem reflexes.

Electrolyte Imbalance

A disruption in the balance of electrolytes in the body, which can affect various bodily functions, including brain function.

Apnea

The absence of breathing, which can be a critical indicator in the diagnosis of brain death.

Reflexes

Involuntary responses to stimuli that can indicate the integrity of the nervous system.

Disorientation

A state of confusion regarding time, place, or identity.

Lethargy

A state of sluggishness, inactivity, and apathy, often seen as a decrease in alertness.

Hyperreflexia

An exaggerated reflex response, often indicating neurological dysfunction.

Hyporeflexia

A diminished reflex response, which can indicate nerve damage or dysfunction.

Atrophy

The wasting away or decrease in size of muscle tissue, often due to lack of use or nerve damage.

Hypertrophy

The increase in the size of muscle cells, often as a result of increased workload or exercise.

Uniform Determination of Death Act (UDDA)

A legal framework that defines death as the irreversible cessation of all functions of the entire brain, including the brain stem.

Trauma

Physical injury to the body, which can result in neurological impairment depending on the severity and location of the injury.

Psychogenic Factors

Psychological conditions that can lead to altered states of consciousness without any physical cause.

Cerebral Hemispheres

The two halves of the brain that are responsible for higher functions such as thought and emotion.

Reticular Activating System

A network of neurons in the brain that plays a crucial role in regulating wakefulness and sleep-wake transitions.

Jaundice

A medical condition characterized by yellowing of the skin and eyes, often due to liver dysfunction affecting brain function.

Consciousness

The state of being aware of and able to think and respond to one's environment.

Movement Disorders

A group of neurological conditions that affect the speed, fluency, quality, and ease of movement.

Skeletal Muscle Responses

The reactions of muscles to stimuli, which can indicate the health of the nervous system.

Masses

Abnormal growths, such as tumors, that can exert pressure on the brain and affect its function.

Confusion

A state of mental uncertainty or disorientation, often characterized by difficulty in thinking clearly.

Higher Brain Functions

Complex cognitive processes such as reasoning, problem-solving, and planning, primarily associated with the cerebral cortex.

Self-Awareness

The recognition of oneself as an individual, separate from the environment and other individuals.

Behavioral Function

Actions or reactions of an individual in response to external or internal stimuli, governed by the nervous system.

Apnea Testing

A procedure used to determine brain death by assessing the absence of breathing in response to elevated carbon dioxide levels.

Acute Confusional State

A transient disorder characterized by confusion, disorientation, and altered consciousness, often due to metabolic or toxic causes.

Dementia

A syndrome characterized by a decline in cognitive function severe enough to interfere with daily life, without a depressed level of consciousness.

Alzheimer's Disease

A progressive neurodegenerative disorder that is the most common cause of dementia, characterized by memory loss and cognitive decline.

Neurofibrillary Tangles

Intracellular aggregates of hyperphosphorylated tau protein, commonly found in the brains of individuals with Alzheimer's disease.

Beta Amyloid Protein

A peptide that accumulates to form plaques in the brains of Alzheimer's patients, associated with neurodegeneration.

Long-term Potentiation (LTP)

A long-lasting enhancement in signal transmission between two neurons that results from their repeated stimulation, often studied in the context of memory.

Phosphorylation of Tau

A biochemical modification of tau protein that can lead to its dysfunction and is implicated in the development of neurodegenerative diseases.

Pseudodementia

A condition where cognitive impairment mimics dementia but is actually due to depression or other psychiatric disorders.

Wernicke's Encephalopathy

A neurological condition caused by thiamine (vitamin B1) deficiency, often associated with alcohol misuse, leading to confusion and ataxia.

Hepatic Encephalopathy

A decline in brain function that occurs as a result of severe liver disease, leading to a buildup of toxins in the bloodstream.

Neurotransmitter

Chemicals that transmit signals across a synapse from one neuron to another, playing a crucial role in brain function.

Electrolyte Disorders

Imbalances in the levels of electrolytes in the body, which can affect brain function and lead to confusion or altered mental status.

Neurodegeneration

The progressive loss of structure or function of neurons, which can lead to diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.

Vascular Disorders

Conditions that affect the blood vessels in the brain, potentially leading to strokes or transient ischemic attacks.

Seizures

Sudden, uncontrolled electrical disturbances in the brain that can cause changes in behavior, movements, feelings, and consciousness.

Complex Motor Movements

Involuntary movements that may occur in patients diagnosed as brain dead, which can mislead assessments of brain function.

Ancillary Tests

Additional diagnostic tests used to confirm brain death, which may include imaging studies or blood flow assessments.

Tau Protein

A protein that, when misfolded, can form insoluble aggregates contributing to neurodegenerative diseases.

Beta-Amyloid

A peptide that accumulates in the brains of Alzheimer's patients, formed from a parent protein through enzymatic processes.

Vitamin D

A nutrient that has been correlated with the presence of Alzheimer's disease, suggesting a potential link between deficiency and disease risk.

Saracatinib

A drug currently undergoing human trials as a potential treatment for Alzheimer's disease, aimed at blocking the production of beta-amyloid.

Neurodegenerative Disease

A class of diseases characterized by the progressive degeneration of the structure and function of the nervous system.

Pathology Spread

The process by which disease-related proteins, such as tau, propagate from one neuron to another, potentially leading to widespread neurodegeneration.

Insoluble Aggregates

Clumps of misfolded proteins that are resistant to dissolution, often associated with neurodegenerative diseases.

Enzymatic Processes

Biochemical reactions facilitated by enzymes that lead to the formation of specific proteins or peptides, such as beta-amyloid from its parent protein.

Parkinson's Disease

A neurodegenerative disorder that affects movement and may share similar protein aggregation mechanisms with Alzheimer's disease.

Seizure Disorder

A neurological condition characterized by sudden, uncontrolled electrical disturbances in the brain, leading to changes in behavior, movements, or consciousness.

Status Epilepticus

A medical emergency involving a prolonged seizure or a series of seizures without recovery in between, which can lead to brain damage.

Cerebral Edema

The accumulation of excess fluid in the brain, leading to increased intracranial pressure and potential neuronal damage.

Intracranial Pressure (ICP)

The pressure within the skull that can increase due to various factors, potentially leading to serious complications such as brain herniation.

CVA (Cerebrovascular Accident)

A medical emergency caused by interrupted blood supply to the brain, leading to tissue damage and loss of function.

Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA)

A temporary period of symptoms similar to those of a stroke, caused by a temporary decrease in blood supply to part of the brain.

Huntington's Disease

An inherited neurodegenerative disorder that causes the progressive breakdown of nerve cells in the brain, leading to movement, cognitive, and psychiatric symptoms.

Agnosia

The inability to process sensory information, leading to difficulty recognizing objects, people, or sounds despite intact sensory function.

Apraxia

A motor disorder caused by brain damage, characterized by the inability to carry out learned movements or gestures despite having the desire and physical ability to do so.

Dysphasia

A language disorder resulting from brain damage, affecting the ability to communicate effectively, which can involve difficulties in understanding or producing speech.

Dystonia

A movement disorder characterized by sustained muscle contractions, abnormal postures, or twisting movements.

Chorea

A movement disorder characterized by brief, irregular, and unintentional movements that appear to flow from one muscle to another.

Clonus

A neurological condition characterized by involuntary, rhythmic muscle contractions, often seen in response to a sudden stretch.

Acalculia

The inability to perform simple mathematical calculations, often due to brain damage.

Alexia

A neurological condition characterized by the inability to read, often resulting from damage to specific areas of the brain.

Agraphia

A loss of the ability to write, typically due to brain injury or neurological conditions.

Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus

A condition characterized by an accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid in the brain's ventricles, leading to cognitive decline, gait disturbances, and urinary incontinence.

Coup Injury

A type of brain injury that occurs at the site of impact during a head trauma.

Contracoup Injury

A type of brain injury that occurs on the opposite side of the impact site during a head trauma.

Epidural Hematoma

A collection of blood between the skull and the dura mater, often resulting from trauma and requiring urgent medical attention.

Subdural Hematoma

A collection of blood between the dura mater and the brain, often resulting from venous bleeding and can develop over time.

Spinal Shock

A temporary condition following spinal cord injury characterized by loss of reflexes and flaccid paralysis.

Herniated Disc

A condition where the inner gel-like core of an intervertebral disc protrudes through the outer layer, potentially compressing nearby nerves.

Cerebrovascular Disease

A group of disorders affecting blood flow to the brain, which can lead to ischemia or hemorrhage.

Hemorrhagic Stroke

A type of stroke caused by bleeding into the brain tissue, often due to a ruptured blood vessel.

Thrombotic Stroke

A type of stroke caused by a blood clot that forms in a blood vessel supplying blood to the brain.

Embolic Stroke

A type of stroke caused by a blood clot or other debris that travels from another part of the body to the brain.

Papilloedema

Swelling of the optic disc due to increased intracranial pressure, often visible during an eye examination.

Dysfunction of Cerebral Homeostasis

A disruption in the brain's ability to maintain stable internal conditions, often leading to increased intracranial pressure and neuronal death.

Epilepsy

A chronic neurological disorder marked by recurrent seizures that can vary in severity and frequency.

Absence Seizure

A type of generalized seizure characterized by brief lapses in consciousness, often mistaken for daydreaming.

Cerebrovascular Accident (CVA)

A sudden loss of brain function due to disruption of blood supply, commonly known as a stroke.

Motor Dysfunction

Impairment of the ability to perform voluntary movements, which can manifest as weakness, rigidity, or abnormal postures.

Coup-Contrecoup Injury

A type of brain injury that occurs at the site of impact (coup) and on the opposite side of the brain (contrecoup).

Cerebellar Syndrome

A condition characterized by loss of coordination, balance, and fine motor control due to cerebellar dysfunction.

Upper Motor Neuron Syndrome

A condition resulting from damage to the upper motor neurons, characterized by spasticity, hyperreflexia, and weakness.