Degenerative Brain Diseases

You may have heard of popular brain diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and Huntington’s. These diseases of the brain are also called “degenerative brain diseases”. It is widely known that these diseases tend to affect brain function, but how does that actually work?

To begin, neurodegenerative brain diseases are caused by the decline or death of nerve cells called neurons. This is even told by the name we use to identify the disease, as “neuro” means brain, and “degenerative” means breaking down or the deterioration of function and structure of the affected body part. Neurons are one of the most important cells in the brain, as they work collaboratively to perform functions of the brain, all the way from thinking about what to eat for dinner, to talking to a friend, to moving around. Since the brain is an extremely complex organ, small miscommunications between cells can lead to brain disorders. Inside the brain, cells are closely interconnected, so a minor miscommunication can bring about major problems. These miscommunications have the possibility of resulting in many different diseases or illnesses, but the most complicated are neurodegenerative diseases.

The conditions of these diseases worsen over time as the number of dead neurons in the brain increases, leading to worsened conditions. In other words, degenerative brain diseases are progressive, and health declines over time. This leads to common symptoms such as the loss of intellectual function such as speech, spatial skills, and memory. The likelihood of developing a neurodegenerative disease rises with age, meaning that people of older age are at a higher risk of developing such diseases. There are many different types of neurodegenerative diseases, originating in different regions of the brain.

Dementia, more specifically Alzheimer’s disease, is one of the most common types of degenerative brain disease. In our brains, memories are stored with the help of neurons. Even though we don’t know how exactly the storage of memories works, it is known from research that neurons are involved in this process, as the death of neurons causes memory loss. Dementia is caused by neurodegeneration, meaning that the brain is shrinking with the death of neurons. As the number of dead neurons skyrockets, patients that are diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease lose not only their ability to remember, but also eventually their ability to communicate with others, move around, and eventually think properly.

Another common type of neurodegenerative disease is Parkinson’s disease. The most prominent symptoms of Parkinson’s occur when nerve cells in the basal ganglia become impaired, as this region of the brain controls movement. This brain disorder causes uncontrollable and unintended movements in the patient, such as the body shaking randomly, stiffness, or difficulty with balance. Symptoms usually worsen over time, which leads to behavioral changes and depression. Depression in Parkinson’s patients is because when neurons die, they produce less dopamine. Although similar to all other neurodegenerative diseases, Parkinson’s has no cure, there are medicines and treatment options available. Medicines can help with symptoms by increasing dopamine levels, helping control non-movement symptoms, and affecting neurotransmitters which help the transfer of information between cells. Symptoms can also be relieved by surgical treatment and other therapies. How can individuals prevent themselves from developing Parkinson’s disease? This is yet unknown, as there are no proven ways to prevent the disease. However, some research has shown that aerobic exercise and caffeine consumption protects against Parkinson’s, although there is not enough evidence currently to fully support these possibilities.

Huntington’s disease is also a well-known neurodegenerative disease. Despite the fact that it is widely known, Huntington’s disease is rare among patients, and it is a genetic condition involving the gradual degeneration of nerve cells in the brain. Huntington’s disease affects the patient’s functional skills in numerous ways, frequently resulting in mobility, cognitive, and psychological problems. What causes this disease? A hereditary variation in a single gene is what causes Huntington’s disease. It is an autosomal dominant illness, which implies that only one copy of the nontypical gene is required for the development of the disorder. An individual inherits two copies of every gene, with the exception of genes on the sex chromosomes, and one copy from each parent. A parent with a nontypical gene may pass on either the nontypical or healthy copy of the gene. As a result, each kid in the family has a 50% chance of receiving the gene that causes the genetic condition. There are medications available to manage symptoms, but they can not prevent the physical, mental, and behavioral disorders associated with the disease. Prevention of Huntington’s disease could include getting genetic testing done to see if the disease will be passed on to future generations, and it can be helpful to consult with a genetic counselor.

Neurodegenerative disorders, or conditions that cause cell loss in the brain, affect people all over the world. Certain neurodegenerative illnesses, such as Parkinson's and Huntington's, damage the basal ganglia and cause movement issues. Some disorders, such as Alzheimer's, induce extensive cell death and contribute to memory loss. Neurodegenerative diseases are terrible illnesses with no treatment; nevertheless, researchers throughout the world are looking for methods to aid patients with these disorders. One of the most promising therapies involves the use of stem cells to restore neurons that have perished. With so many talented brains working on a remedy, surely individuals suffering from these ailments will soon find relief!

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