BRAIN DIAGNOSIS

The brain together with the spinal cord makes up the nervous system. It can be said to be the central organ of the human nervous system. The constituents of the brain includes; the Cerebrum, Cerebellum and Brainstem.

With the protection given the brain, that is, by the skull, the cerebrospinal fluid (in which it suspends), and the blood-brain barrier which isolates it from the blood stream, it is still susceptible to damage, disease, infections and degenerative disorders. Damage to the brain may be caused through trauma or stroke (lack of blood supply). The brain can also be a site for malignant (cancerous) or benign (non-cancerous) tumours, which mostly originate from different parts of the body. Doctors are still researching to know the exact cause of brain tumours.

Brain tumours that form in the brain are called primary brain tumours, whiles those in the brain that were caused due to cancer that spread from other parts of the body are called secondary brain tumours.

Some common symptoms of brain tumours are:

• headaches
• nausea
• numbness or tingling in the limbs
• seizures
• vomiting
• imbalance (difficulty with movement)
• changes in hearing, speech, or vision

And the main types of treatment for brain tumours include the following:

• chemotherapy
• radiation therapy
• surgery

However, neurodegenerative diseases destroy the tissues and nerves of the brain over time. This deterioration may cause confusion and change a person’s personality entirely. Some of them are genetic, hence may occur from birth or infancy, whiles others occur as a person ages. And can cause severe impairments of the memory and thoughts of an individual.

Some common symptoms of neurodegenerative diseases are:

• memory loss
• forgetfulness
• anxiety
• apathy
• agitation
• loss of inhibition
• mood swings

And some common neurodegenerative diseases are:

• Huntington’s disease
• ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) / Lou Gehrig’s disease
• Parkinson’s disease
• Dementia

With neurodegenerative diseases symptoms other than what was initially experienced are likely to develop. It has no cure but treatments are likely to alleviate the symptoms and improve life’s quality.