Neurological disorders

Alzheimer’s disease and dementia

🔴 Symptoms

Recent memory loss
Disorientation in time and space
Difficulty performing familiar tasks
Problems with language and comprehension
Changes in personality or behavior
Irritability, anxiety, depression
Progressive loss of autonomy

🩺 Treatment

Medications to slow progression (e.g., donepezil, memantine)
Cognitive therapies to stimulate memory
Care by a multidisciplinary team (psychologist, neurologist, etc.)
Home adaptations for safety
Support for caregivers and support groups
Treatment of associated disorders (anxiety, insomnia…)

📌 Summary

Definition: Alzheimer's disease is a common form of progressive dementia that affects memory, reasoning, language, and autonomy. It causes progressive deterioration of cognitive functions due to degeneration of brain cells.
Affected population: Mainly people over 65 years old, although early-onset forms can occur before age 60. Women are slightly more affected than men.
Common causes: Advanced age, genetic predisposition (APOE-e4 gene), previous head injuries, cardiovascular diseases, low educational level, social isolation, sedentary lifestyle, unbalanced diet.

🛡️ Prevention

Regular physical activity
Balanced diet (Mediterranean type)
Intellectual stimulation (reading, cognitive games…)
Maintaining social connections
Control of risk factors (hypertension, diabetes, cholesterol)
Regular medical check-ups after age 60

Stroke

🔴 Symptoms

Sudden paralysis on one side of the body (face, arm, leg)
Difficulty speaking or understanding language
Blurred vision or loss of vision in one eye
Severe and unusual headaches
Loss of balance or coordination
Sudden numbness or weakness
Mental confusion or altered consciousness

🩺 Treatment

Emergency call and immediate hospitalization
Medication to dissolve the clot (ischemic stroke)
Surgery in case of hemorrhagic stroke
Rehabilitation (physiotherapy, speech therapy, occupational therapy)
Management of complications (blood pressure, blood sugar, pain...)
Psychological support and patient care

📌 Summary

Definition: A stroke (cerebrovascular accident) is a sudden interruption of blood flow to a part of the brain, caused either by a clot (ischemic stroke) or by bleeding (hemorrhagic stroke). It leads to the death of brain cells deprived of oxygen.
Population affected: Mainly adults over 55 years old, but it can also occur in younger people. Men are slightly more affected, although women often experience more severe forms.
Common causes: High blood pressure, diabetes, smoking, high cholesterol, atrial fibrillation, obesity, sedentary lifestyle, family history of stroke.

🛡️ Prevention

Blood pressure control
Monitoring diabetes and cholesterol
Smoking cessation and limiting alcohol
Regular physical activity
Healthy and balanced diet
Regular intake of prescribed treatments
Medical consultation in case of warning signs

Parkinson’s disease

🔴 Symptoms

Resting tremors (often on one side)
Slowness of movement (bradykinesia)
Muscle stiffness
Balance and coordination problems
Difficulty writing or speaking clearly
Reduced facial expressions (masked face)
Fatigue, sleep disturbances, and depression

🩺 Treatment

Medications to stimulate or replace dopamine (e.g., L-dopa)
Complementary therapies: physiotherapy, speech therapy, occupational therapy
Psychological and social support
Adapted physical activity
Regular neurological follow-up
In some cases, deep brain stimulation (neurosurgery)

📌 Summary

Definition: Parkinson's disease is a chronic progressive neurological disorder that affects the central nervous system. It is mainly characterized by movement disorders (tremors, muscle rigidity, slowness) caused by the degeneration of dopamine-producing neurons in the brain.
Affected population: Mainly people over 60 years old, although it can appear earlier in some cases (early-onset form). It affects both men and women, with a slight male predominance.
Common causes: Exact causes are unknown, but genetic factors, exposure to environmental toxins, family history, and aging are suspected in its development.

🛡️ Prevention

No absolute prevention known to date
Diet rich in antioxidants (fruits, vegetables, omega-3)
Regular physical activity
Avoid prolonged exposure to pesticides or toxic substances
Medical follow-up if there is a family history
Regularly stimulate cognitive functions

Epilepsy

🔴 Symptoms

Seizures (violent involuntary movements)
Brief absences (blank stare, temporary loss of contact)
Sudden loss of consciousness
Confusion after the seizure
Unusual movements of the eyes or mouth
Aura sensations (strange sounds, smells, or feelings before a seizure)
Mood or memory disturbances

🩺 Treatment

Antiepileptic drugs (AEDs)
Regular neurological follow-up
Strict adherence to prescribed treatment
Surgery in cases of drug-resistant epilepsy
Vagus nerve stimulation (in some cases)
Education for the patient and family to manage seizures

📌 Summary

Definition: Epilepsy is a chronic neurological disorder characterized by recurrent seizures caused by abnormal electrical activity in the brain. These seizures may manifest as convulsions, loss of consciousness, or unusual sensations.
Affected population: It can affect anyone at any age, but is more common in children, adolescents, and elderly people.
Common causes: Brain injuries (head trauma, stroke), nervous system infections (meningitis, encephalitis), congenital abnormalities, brain tumors, genetic factors, or sometimes no identifiable cause (idiopathic epilepsy).

🛡️ Prevention

Prevention of head injuries (helmets, road safety)
Prompt treatment of brain infections (meningitis, encephalitis)
Control of diabetes and hypertension
Avoidance of neurotoxic substances (alcohol, drugs)
Proper prenatal care to prevent birth disorders
Avoid lack of sleep and intense stress

Multiple sclerosis

🔴 Symptoms

Unexplained chronic fatigue
Vision problems (blurred vision, eye pain)
Numbness or tingling in the limbs
Loss of coordination or balance
Urinary or bowel dysfunction
Difficulty speaking or swallowing
Muscle weakness and spasms
Cognitive issues (memory, concentration)

🩺 Treatment

Immunomodulatory medications to slow progression
Corticosteroids to treat flare-ups
Physical therapy and occupational therapy to preserve mobility
Speech therapy for speech or swallowing difficulties
Psychological support
Specialized neurological follow-up

📌 Summary

Definition: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic autoimmune disease of the central nervous system, where the immune system attacks the protective sheath of the nerves (myelin), disrupting communication between the brain and the rest of the body.
Affected population: Mainly young adults between 20 and 40 years old, with a predominance in women.
Common causes: Exact causes remain unknown, but several factors may be involved: genetic predisposition, viral infections, environmental factors (vitamin D deficiency, smoking), and immune system dysregulation.

🛡️ Prevention

No formal preventive method known
Avoid vitamin D deficiency (moderate sun exposure, diet)
Maintain a healthy lifestyle (exercise, balanced diet)
Limit frequent viral infections during childhood
Reduce chronic stress
Medical follow-up if there is a family history

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)

🔴 Symptoms

Progressive muscle weakness (hands, legs, trunk)
Frequent muscle cramps
Loss of coordination and frequent falls
Difficulty speaking (dysarthria)
Difficulty swallowing (dysphagia)
Increasing difficulty breathing over time
Weight loss and significant fatigue
No early impairment of intellectual functions

🩺 Treatment

Medications to slow disease progression (e.g., riluzole)
Progressive respiratory support (non-invasive ventilation)
Physiotherapy to maintain mobility
Speech therapy to improve communication and swallowing
Adapted nutrition and gastrostomy in severe cases
Palliative care to improve quality of life
Psychological support and family assistance

📌 Summary

Definition: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Charcot disease, is a severe neurodegenerative disease that affects motor neurons responsible for controlling voluntary muscles, leading to progressive paralysis.
Affected population: Mainly adults between 40 and 70 years old, with a slight male predominance. Rare in young people.
Common causes: In most cases, the cause is unknown (sporadic form), but about 5 to 10% are genetic in origin (familial form). Other possible factors include oxidative stress, glutamatergic imbalances, environmental toxins, and genetic mutations.

🛡️ Prevention

No known prevention methods to date
Genetic screening in rare familial cases
Avoid prolonged exposure to certain toxic substances (pesticides, heavy metals)
Medical follow-up if there is a family history of ALS
Adoption of a healthy and balanced lifestyle
Participation in clinical research to improve future prevention

Coma and traumatic brain injuries

🔴 Symptoms

Prolonged loss of consciousness (coma)
Unresponsiveness to external stimuli
Slowing or cessation of reflex functions
Non-reactive pupils to light
Absence of voluntary movement
Altered breathing rhythm
Possible convulsions in case of severe injury
Visible signs of trauma (bruises, wounds)

🩺 Treatment

Immediate management in intensive care
Assisted ventilation if breathing is compromised
Maintenance of vital functions (blood pressure, oxygen, blood sugar)
Brain imaging (CT scan, MRI) to assess injuries
Surgery in case of hematoma or brain edema
Treatment of seizures or associated infections
Neurological rehabilitation in case of awakening

📌 Summary

Definition: Coma is a state of deep and prolonged unconsciousness caused by severe brain injury. It can result from traumatic brain injuries, strokes, infections, or intoxications. Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) specifically refer to damage to the brain caused by a direct or indirect impact to the head.
Affected Population: All age groups can be affected, with a higher incidence among young adults (traffic accidents, violent sports) and the elderly (falls).
Common Causes: Traffic accidents, falls, assaults, head trauma, stroke, oxygen deprivation (hypoxia), drug overdose, brain infections (encephalitis, meningitis).

🛡️ Prevention

Wearing helmets when cycling, motorcycling, and during certain sports
Mandatory seat belt use in cars
Reducing fall risks at home (especially for elderly people)
Road safety education and accident prevention
Strict supervision of extreme and contact sports
Rapid intervention in case of head trauma