These conditions are typically brought on by age but not always.
Neurodegenerative diseases include conditions such asAlzheimer’s diseaseandParkinson’s disease.
Neurodegenerative disorders are progressive, which means that they get worse over time.
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Unfortunately, there’s currently no cure, and this progression can’t be stopped.
Symptoms of Neurodegenerative Diseases
Neurodegenerative diseasesshare a lot of common symptoms.
Symptoms of these diseases progress in severity the longer you live with the condition.
While medication can help manage and sometimes even slow progression, it can’t stop it.
Your doctor might also order brain imaging tests like anMRIto confirm a diagnosis.
There is ongoing research into the early detection of neurodegenerative diseases.
A miRNA is a single-stranded molecule that plays a role in regulating gene expression.
Causes of Neurodegenerative Diseases
Below are some of the causes of neurodegenerative diseases.
Neuronal Damage
Neurodegenerative diseases are thought to be brought on by damage to neurons in your brain.
Neurons make up your nervous system which includes your brain and spinal cord.
In fact, as you get older, the brain shrinks.
Neurodegenerative diseases cause these neurons to die.
Environmental and Genetic Factors
It’s not very clear what brings on most neurodegenerative diseases.
In some cases, relatives can pass down mutated genes that can cause you to develop a neurodegenerative disease.
Abnormal Proteins
Abnormal proteins in the brain have also been linked to many neurodegenerative diseases.
These abnormal proteins can cause nerve cells in your brain to die.
With Alzheimer’s disease, a protein known as beta-amyloid has been linked to the development of the condition.
The most significant risk factor for developing a neurodegenerative disease is old age.
As you age, nerve cells in your brain are more likely to die.
These factors include having conditions such as cardiovascular diseases or experiencing brain trauma.
Other factors include:
Types of Neurodegenerative Diseases
There are many different forms of neurodegenerative diseases.
Some of the most common are detailed below.
Research shows that around 6.2 million people may have the condition as of 2022.
The former is more common and affects people over the age of 60.
The latter is rare and can develop in people who are between the ages of 30 and 60.
It targets the nerve cells in your brain that control your voluntary muscle movement.
As with most neurodegenerative diseases, ALS is progressive, which means symptoms worsen over time.
Early signs of the condition include muscle stiffness and weakness.
Huntington’s Disease
Huntington’s diseaseis a condition that causes you to lose control over your body.
It also causes cognitive decline.
The alpha-synuclein protein causes chemical changes in the brain that lead to cognitive decline and mood and behavior changes.
This condition is often mistaken for Parkinson’s disease because both conditions share several common symptoms.
Common symptoms of Lewy body dementia include visual hallucinations and confusion.
Early signs of the condition includetremors.
As the disease progresses, your muscles become stiffer, and movement becomes more difficult.
While the condition is primarily marked by difficulty with movement, it also causes a loss of cognitive function.
Treatment for Neurodegenerative Diseases
Unfortunately, there’s currently no cure for neurodegenerative diseases.
They are typically treated with a combination of medication and psychotherapy.
The exact combination and form of drugs depend on the form of neurodegenerative disease one has been diagnosed with.
Treatment for each form of the neurodegenerative disease varies.
However, treatment typically focuses on alleviating symptoms of the condition.
For example, there is ongoing research into using immunotherapy to treat Alzheimer’s disease symptoms.
Medications help manage the physical and mental symptoms of neurodegenerative diseases.
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