Brain Diseases

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Summary

The brain is the control center of the body. It controls thoughts, memory, speech, and movement. It regulates the function of many organs. When the brain is healthy, it works quickly and automatically. However, when problems occur, the results can be devastating.

Inflammation in the brain can lead to problems such as vision loss, weakness and paralysis. Loss of brain cells, which happens if you suffer a stroke, can affect your ability to think clearly. Brain tumors can also press on nerves and affect brain function. Some brain diseases are genetic. And we do not know what causes some brain diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease.

The symptoms of brain diseases vary widely depending on the specific problem. In some cases, damage is permanent. In other cases, treatments such as surgery, medicines, or physical therapy can correct the source of the problem or improve symptoms.

Start Here

Brain Basics: Know Your Brain (National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke)

Diagnosis and Tests

Computed Tomography (CT) -- Head (Radiological Society of North America, American College of Radiology) Also in Spanish
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) -- Head (Radiological Society of North America, American College of Radiology) Also in Spanish
Magnetic Resonance, Functional (fMRI) -- Brain (Radiological Society of North America, American College of Radiology) - PDF Also in Spanish
Neurological Diagnostic Tests and Procedures (National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke) Also in Spanish

Treatments and Therapies

About Neurointerventions (Society of NeuroInterventional Surgery)
Intracranial Hypertension: Medication and Surgery (Intracranial Hypertension Research Foundation)

Specifics

Acute Disseminated Encephalomyelitis (National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke) Also in Spanish
Brain Lesions (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
Central Pontine Myelinolysis (National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke)
Cerebral Atrophy (National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke)
Cysts (American Brain Tumor Association)
Encephalopathy (National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke)
Hepatic Encephalopathy (American Liver Foundation)
Klüver-Bucy Syndrome (National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke)
Neuronal Migration Disorders (National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke)
Periventricular Leukomalacia (National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke)
Porencephaly (National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke)
Pseudotumor Cerebri (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
Pseudotumor Cerebri (National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke)
Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome (National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke)
What Is IH (Intracranial Hypertension)? (Intracranial Hypertension Research Foundation)