NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERS

IN OLDER ADULTS
Neurological Disorders
• Neurological disorders are conditions
that happen due to damage to some part
of the brain or the nervous system.
• These disorders can make life terrible for
the elders by affecting their ability to live
independently. And as the years pass by,
the condition may only get worse,
especially, if proper treatment isn’t used.
 Types of Neurological Disorders

• Alzheimer’s Disease/Dementia
• Stroke
• Multiple Sclerosis
• Epilepsy and Seizures
• Parkinson’s Disease
• Huntington’s Disease
Types of Neurological Disorders
• Alzheimer’s Disease/Dementia
Alzheimer’s is the primary type of dementia. It
belongs to the degenerative neurological disorders
list. Thus, meaning it happens due to the damage
that occurs in the nerve cells of the brain.
Conditions like diabetes, heart disease, stress, brain
injuries which might be because of traumatic
accidents, and consistent drinking and smoking are
some risk factors.
Types of Neurological Disorders
• Stroke
A stroke is what happens when the elder’s brain cells
do not get enough supply of oxygen and nutrients.
Thus, causing the brain’s parts to either not function
or work terribly.
Strokes can happen due to rupturing of blood vessels
in the brain’s arteries. Or due to some clot-forming
(from fat) in other parts of the body. This clot may
travel to the brain and block the path through which
the blood has to flow.
Types of Neurological Disorders
• Multiple Sclerosis
A list of neurological disorders in elders isn’t
complete without Multiple Sclerosis. It is one of the
bed wetting neurological disorders. Thus, implying,
that Multiple Sclerosis can cause bladder control
problems in adults.
It is when the protective lining of the elder’s nerves
(that lie between the brain and the rest of the body)
has to fight with the body’s immune system. It can
cause communication problems.
Types of Neurological Disorders
• Epilepsy and Seizures
This disorder is a condition in which the activity
of the nerve cells in your brain becomes
abnormal. It is not among the rare neurological
disorders.
An elder who has had a traumatic experience or
a stroke is more likely to be affected by epilepsy
and seizures.
The treatment is possible through medications.
Types of Neurological Disorders
• Parkinson’s Disease
The primary cause behind this condition is the damage in
brain cells of substantia nigra - an essential part of the brain.
You might notice symptoms like shaking, loss of balance, and
the elder’s difficulty on walking straight. These signs of
tremors are not visible in any early stages. They develop
over time.
While there is no proper treatment of Parkinson's disease,
experts can help you manage it with medications and
physiotherapy.
Types of Neurological Disorders
• Huntington’s Disease
Another one of the degenerative neurological disorders list,
Huntington's disease is a condition in which the nerve cells
degenerate over time. The destruction of cells is not as fast
as in strokes. It is slow and progressive.
It is the only one of the rare neurological disorders in this
list. The disease affects brain functionality like that of
thinking and movement.
There is no cure for Huntington's disease yet, but doctors
will help you manage the symptoms with talk therapy,
physiotherapy and medications.
Other Types of Neurological Disorders

• Neuropathy
• Myopathy
• Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
• Myasthenia Gravis
• Muscular Dystrophy
 11 Common Symptoms of Neurological Disorders

• Pain • Speech Problems

• Dizziness • Nausea
• Headaches • Changes in Weight
• Memory Loss • Tremors
• Vision Problems • Numbness
• Sleep Issues
 11 Common Symptoms of Neurological Disorders

1. Pain: Pain in the back, neck, joints and muscles

are usual among the neurological disorders
symptoms.

2. Dizziness: Feeling dizzy for no reason, that too,

often is a sign that there’s a problem with your
nervous system.
3. Headaches: Headaches also belong to this list
of neurological disorders symptoms, no matter
how common they may seem to you. They can
be due to stress, hunger, overworking, etc. but
chronic headaches with no known cause to you,
must be checked by a doctor.

4. Memory loss: Not being able to concentrate

and retain information, is a sign that your nerve
cells in the brain aren't working to their full
capacity. This lack of brain functioning can be
because of a neurological condition.
5. Vision problems: Difficulty with vision is one of
the early symptoms of neurological disorders. It
can be due to an injury or a neurological
condition that has taken birth due to advancing
age.

6. Sleep issues: If your elder is struggling with

insomnia, restless nights or hypersomnia, there's
a huge possibility the reason behind is some
neurological disease.
7. Speech problems: Another one of the early
symptoms of neurological disorders, speech
problems imply that your brain isn’t coordinating
well with the mouth. The lack of coordination can
be due to degeneration of brain cells.

8. Nausea: If your elder experiences chronic

Nausea, it can be due to neurological issues. In
such a case, you must get the elder checked by
an expert.
9. Changes in weight: As the functioning of your
brain changes due to the degeneration of nerve
cells, there will be a change in hormones. And as
hormones get affected, they will put a sudden
impact on your weight as well.

10. Tremors: Shaking and trembling happens

when one is anxious or stressed. However, it is
also quite common in the list of neurological
disorders symptoms. Especially when the shaking
is for a long period of time for seemingly no
reason, there is a chance it is because of
neurological disorders.
11. Numbness: If there is a loss of sensation -
either partially or fully in your arms and legs, but
for a prolonged time, it can be because of the
degeneration of brain cells. If it happens, and
there seems to be no other reason, get your
elder checked for neurological issues.
 Can neurological disorders be prevented?

Fortunately, there are some steps you can take to

minimize your chances of a neurological disorder.
The first step is controlling risk factors such as
smoking, high blood pressure, high cholesterol,
obesity, and lack of exercise which can contribute
to stroke, and possibly other neurological issues.
Even if you do suffer from a neurological problem
when you get older, the healthier you are the
better able you will be able to deal with it.
 References
https://emoha.com/blogs/health/neurolo
gical-disorders

https://reliantmedicalgroup.org/blog/201
4/08/05/neurological-disorders-common-
problem-aging/
Prepared by:
• Limbal, Rohana G.
• Kayampao, Hairia U.
• Ordas, Jaslie L.