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Brain and Nervous System
Learn about the brain and nervous system
Your brain and your nervous system work together to help you do things like see, smell, taste, feel, and move. Your nervous system sends signals to your brain to control these important functions. It also takes messages from your brain to your muscles, organs, and skin. But sometimes there is a problem, and the signals can't be sent. For example, with Parkinson's disease, nerve cells in the brain break down and can't send signals, so you may have trouble moving the way you want to. Other problems, like vertigo, happen when your sensing systems send false signals to your brain.
Our topics can help you learn more about your brain and nerve symptoms. Find out about certain diseases and disorders so you can understand the best treatment for your needs. To get started, explore these brain and nervous system topics:
- Absence Epilepsy
- Abusive Head Trauma
- Acute Flaccid Myelitis
- ADHD and Hyperactivity
- ADHD in Adults: Behavioral Strategies
- ADHD: Impulsivity and Inattention
- ADHD: Symptoms in Adults
- Agitation and Dementia
- Alcohol Problems: How to Stop Drinking
- Alcohol Use Disorder
- Altitude Sickness
- Alzheimer's and Other Dementias: Coping With Sundowning
- Alzheimer's and Other Dementias: Maintaining Good Nutrition
- Alzheimer's and Other Dementias: Making the Most of Remaining Abilities
- Alzheimer's Disease
- Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
- Anesthesia
- Ankylosing Spondylitis
- Anosmia
- Antidepressant Withdrawal
- Arachnoiditis
- Aspirin for Pain, Fever, and Inflammation
- Assistive Devices for People With Disabilities
- Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
- Aura and Seizures
- Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
- Autonomic Dysfunction
- Avoiding Mercury in Fish
- Back School for Low Back Pain
- Bell's Palsy
- Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV)
- Bipolar Disorder
- Bipolar Disorder in Children and Teens
- Bipolar Disorder in Children: Other Health Problems That May Occur
- Bipolar Disorder in Children: School Issues
- Bipolar Disorder: Hypomanic Episodes
- Botulism
- Brain Aneurysm
- Brandt-Daroff Exercise for Vertigo
- Capsaicin
- Caregiving: Making a Home Safe
- Carole's Story: Taking Medicine Right Away to Stop a Migraine
- Carotid Artery Disease
- Carotid Artery Stenting
- Carotid Endarterectomy
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
- Cerebral Palsy
- Cervical Disc Herniation
- Cervical Spinal Fusion
- Cervical Spinal Stenosis
- Cervical Spondylosis
- Checklist for the Home for Vertigo
- Chemo Brain
- Chronic Pain
- Classification of Spinal Cord Injuries
- Cochlear Implants
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Pain Management
- Cognitive Development, Ages 15 to 18 Years
- Cognitive Development, Ages 6 to 10 Years
- Comparing Symptoms of Normal Moodiness With Depression in Children
- Complex Regional Pain Syndrome
- Concussion (Mild Traumatic Brain Injury)
- Conditions With Symptoms Similar to Depression in Children and Teens
- Confusion, Memory Loss, and Altered Alertness
- Congenital Hydrocephalus
- Decompressive Laminectomy for Lumbar Spinal Stenosis
- Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) Surgery
- Degenerative Disc Disease
- Dementia
- Dementia: Assessing Pain
- Dementia: Legal Issues
- Dementia: Medicines to Treat Behavior Changes
- Dementia: Support for Caregivers
- Dementia: Testing How Well a Person Functions
- Dementia: Tips for Communicating
- Dementia: Understanding Behavior Changes
- Depression
- Depression in Children and Teens
- Diabetes: Amputation for Foot Problems
- Diabetic Atypical Neuropathies
- Diabetic Autonomic Neuropathy
- Diabetic Neuropathy
- Diabetic Neuropathy: Exercising Safely
- Difficulty Swallowing (Dysphagia)
- Discectomy for a Lumbar Herniated Disc
- Dizziness: Lightheadedness and Vertigo
- Driving a Car After a Stroke
- Dyslexia
- Electrical Nerve Stimulation for Chronic Pain
- Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT)
- Encephalitis
- Endoscopic Carpal Tunnel Surgery
- Epilepsy
- Epilepsy and Driving
- Epilepsy: Atonic Seizures
- Epilepsy: Focal Aware Seizures
- Epilepsy: Focal Impaired Awareness Seizures
- Epilepsy: Generalized Seizures
- Epilepsy: Generalized Tonic-Clonic Seizures
- Epilepsy: Myoclonic Seizures
- Epilepsy: Tonic Seizures
- Epley and Semont Maneuvers for Vertigo
- Essential Tremor
- Evaluation and Treatment After a First Seizure
- Expert: Be Active to Help Your Back Heal
- Fainting
- Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD)
- Focal Epilepsy
- General Anesthesia
- Guillain-Barré Syndrome
- Head Injury, Age 3 and Younger
- Head Injury, Age 4 and Older
- Headache Clinics
- Headaches
- Hearing Loss
- Heavy Sweating
- Helping a Person During a Seizure
- Hemorrhagic Stroke
- How ADHD Affects Your Child
- How Adolescent Thinking Develops
- How Diabetes Causes Foot Problems
- Huntington Disease Genetic Test
- Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
- Hyperkalemia
- Hypokalemia
- Hyponatremia
- Increased Intracranial Pressure
- Infantile Spasms (West Syndrome)
- Insomnia
- Interactive Tool: Are You Depressed?
- Intradiscal Electrothermal Therapy (IDET) for Low Back Pain
- Intravenous (I.V.) Regional Anesthesia
- Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy
- Kernicterus
- Labyrinthitis
- Language Development Between 12 and 24 Months of Age
- Language Development From Age 6 to 10 Years
- Learning Disabilities
- Leg Problems, Noninjury
- Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome
- Living With a Spinal Cord Injury
- Living With More Than One Health Problem
- Local Anesthesia
- Lumbar Herniated Disc
- Lumbar Spinal Fusion (Arthrodesis)
- Lumbar Spinal Stenosis
- Lumbar Spondylosis
- Lyme Disease
- Mad Cow Disease and Variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease
- Medical History and Physical Exam for Dementia or Alzheimer's Disease
- Medicines That Can Cause Weakness or Fatigue
- Meditation
- Melatonin
- Memory Problems: Issues With Driving
- Memory Problems: Tips for Helping the Person With Daily Tasks
- Memory Problems: Wandering
- Meningitis
- Migraine Headache Triggers
- Migraine Headaches
- Migraine Headaches in Children
- Mild Cognitive Impairment and Dementia
- Mitochondrial Diseases
- Mobility After a Spinal Cord Injury
- Morton's Neuroma
- Motion Sickness
- Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
- Multiple Sclerosis: Mental and Emotional Problems
- Multiple Sclerosis: Modifying Your Home
- Multiple Sclerosis: MRI Results
- Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
- Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Managing Your Energy
- Myths About Tourette's Disorder
- Myths and Facts About Depression
- Neck Pain
- Neisseria Meningitidis
- Nerve Ablation for Chronic Pain
- Nerve Block for Chronic Pain
- Nerve Function Tests for Evaluating Low Back Problems
- Nerve Stimulation for Epilepsy
- Nervous System Problems
- Nervous System Problems Caused by Medicines
- Neurosyphilis
- Noise-Induced Hearing Loss
- Nonepileptic Seizures (NES)
- Nonfatal Drowning
- Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs)
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
- Office Ergonomics
- Open Carpal Tunnel Surgery
- Opioids
- Optic Neuritis
- Orthopedic Surgery for Cerebral Palsy
- Pain Control Diary
- Pain Diary
- Pain in a Spinal Cord Injury
- Pain Management
- Pain Management Clinic
- Pain: Getting Help at Home
- Pallidotomy for Parkinson's Disease
- Parkinson-Plus Syndromes
- Parkinson's Disease
- Parkinson's Disease and Freezing
- Parkinson's Disease and Nutrition
- Parkinson's Disease and Tremors
- Parkinson's Disease: Eating and Drooling Problems
- Parkinson's Disease: Movement Problems From Levodopa
- Parkinson's Disease: Other Symptoms
- Percutaneous Discectomy for a Lumbar Herniated Disc
- Periodic Limb Movement Disorder
- Peripheral Nerve Blocks
- Peripheral Nerve Blocks for Anesthesia
- Peripheral Neuropathy
- Phantom Limb Pain and Chronic Pain
- Pinched Nerve In or Near the Elbow
- Post-Polio Syndrome
- Pregnancy and Epilepsy
- Pregnancy: Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
- Pressure Injuries From Scuba Diving
- Progressive Muscle Relaxation
- Prolotherapy for Low Back Pain
- Pseudobulbar Affect (PBA)
- Pudendal Neuralgia
- Rabies
- Regional Anesthesia
- Rehabilitation Programs for Multiple Sclerosis
- Restless Legs Syndrome
- Returning to Play After a Head Injury During a Sporting Event
- Reye Syndrome
- Ringing in the Ears (Tinnitus)
- Sciatica
- Screening for Hearing Problems
- Sedation
- Seizures
- Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy
- Self-Care After a Stroke
- Sensory and Motor Development Ages 6 to 10 Years
- Sensory and Motor Development, Ages 1 to 12 Months
- Sensory and Motor Development, Ages 12 to 24 Months
- Sensory and Motor Growth in Newborns
- Sensory Processing Disorder
- Serotonin Syndrome
- Shingles
- Social Anxiety Disorder
- Spasticity
- Special Diets for Epilepsy
- Speech and Language Delays: Common Misconceptions
- Speech and Language Development
- Speech and Language Development: Helping Your 1- to 2-Year-Old
- Speech and Language Development: Signs of Possible Problems
- Speech and Language Milestones, Ages 1 to 3 Years
- Speech and Language Milestones, Ages 3 to 5 Years
- Speech and Language Milestones, Birth to 1 Year
- Spina Bifida
- Spinal and Epidural Anesthesia
- Spinal Cord Injury: Abdominal Thrust Assist (Assisted Cough)
- Spinal Cord Injury: Adapting Your Home
- Spinal Cord Injury: Autonomic Dysreflexia
- Spinal Cord Injury: Costophrenic Assist (Assisted Cough)
- Spinal Cord Injury: Flexibility Exercises
- Spinal Cord Injury: Safe Transfers To or From a Wheelchair
- Spinal Cord Injury: Self-Assisted Cough
- Spinal Cord Injury: Sensual Exercises
- Spinal Cord Injury: Talking With Your Partner About Sex
- Spinal Manipulation
- Spondylolisthesis
- Stages of Lyme Disease
- Stages of Sleep
- Stages of Syphilis
- Stopping Medicine for Epilepsy
- Stroke
- Stroke Rehabilitation
- Stroke: Behavior Changes
- Stroke: Bladder and Bowel Problems
- Stroke: Changes in Emotions
- Stroke: Dealing With Depression
- Stroke: Getting Dressed
- Stroke: How to Prevent Another One
- Stroke: Memory Tips
- Stroke: Perception Changes
- Stroke: Problems With Ignoring the Affected Side
- Stroke: Speech and Language Problems
- Stroke: Your Rehabilitation Team
- Stuttering
- Talk to Others About Depression
- Tay-Sachs Disease
- Teen Alcohol and Drug Use
- Temporal Lobe Epilepsy
- Temporary Confusion or Decreased Alertness
- Tension Headaches
- Tension Headaches in Children
- Thalamotomy for Parkinson's Disease
- Thoracic Outlet Syndrome (TOS)
- Tips for Parents of Children With Epilepsy
- Tourette Syndrome (TS)
- Tourette's Disorder: Tic Triggers
- Tracking Chart for Level 1 and Level 2 Exercises for Vertigo
- Tracking Charts for Walking for Vertigo
- Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)
- Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS)
- Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA)
- Traumatic Brain Injury
- Types of Headache
- Types of Migraine Headaches
- Types of Multiple Sclerosis
- Ulnar Tunnel Syndrome
- Vertigo: Staying Safe When You Have Balance Problems
- Vertigo: Walking Exercises
- Vestibular Neuritis
- Vitamin B12 Deficiency Anemia
- Weakness and Fatigue
- West Nile Virus
- Worried About Using Opioids?
- Wrist Splint for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
- Angiogram
- Angiogram of the Head and Neck
- Computed Tomography (CT) Scan of the Head and Face
- Computed Tomography (CT) Scan of the Spine
- Cranial Ultrasound
- Creatine Kinase Test
- Electroencephalogram (EEG)
- Electromyogram (EMG) and Nerve Conduction Studies
- Electronystagmography (ENG)
- Evoked Potential Test
- Lyme Disease Test
- Magnesium (Mg) Test
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) of the Head
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) of the Spine
- Mental Health Assessment
- Myelogram
- Neurological Examination for Multiple Sclerosis
- Neuropsychological Tests
- Positron Emission Tomography (PET)
- Seizure Medicine Levels in Blood Test
- Self-Test for Breath Alcohol
- Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT)
- Sleep Studies
- Spinal Tap (Lumbar Puncture)
- Vitamin B12 Test
- Alzheimer's Disease: Should I Take Medicines?
- Depression: Should I Take an Antidepressant?
- Insomnia: Should I Take Sleeping Pills?
- Low Back Pain: Should I Try Epidural Steroid Shots?
- Lumbar Herniated Disc: Should I Have Surgery?
- Lumbar Spinal Stenosis: Should I Have Surgery?
- Stroke Prevention: Should I Have a Carotid Artery Procedure?
- ADHD: Helping Your Child Get Things Done
- Bipolar Disorder: Preventing Manic Episodes
- Depression: Dealing With Medicine Side Effects
- Depression: Taking Antidepressants Safely
- Epilepsy: Taking Your Medicines Properly
- Headaches: Managing a Headache
- Migraines: Finding and Avoiding Triggers
- Stroke Recovery: Coping With Eating Problems
- Tension Headaches: Finding and Avoiding Triggers
- Vertigo: Balance Exercises
Current as of: December 20, 2023
Author: Ignite Healthwise, LLC Staff
Clinical Review Board
All Healthwise education is reviewed by a team that includes physicians, nurses, advanced practitioners, registered dieticians, and other healthcare professionals.