Neurology is a branch of medicine dealing with disorders of the nervous system. Physicians specializing in the field of neurology are called neurologists and are trained to diagnose, treat, and manage patients with neurological disorders. Most neurologists are trained to treat and diagnose adults. Pediatric neurologists, nearly always a subspecialty of pediatrics, treat neurological disease in children.

Field of work

---

Neurological disorders are disorders that affect the central nervous system (brain, brainstem and cerebellum), the peripheral nervous system (peripheral nerves - cranial nerves included), or the autonomic nervous system (parts of which are located in both central and peripheral nervous system). Neurologists also diagnose and treat some conditions in the musculoskeletal system.

Major conditions include:

• headache disorders such as migraine, cluster headache and tension headache
• epilepsy and seizure disorders
• neurodegenerative disorders, the most common class being dementias, including Alzheimer's disease
• cerebrovascular disease, such as transient ischemic attacks, and strokes (ischemic or hemorrhagic)
• sleep disorders
• cerebral palsy
• infections of the central nervous system (encephalitis), brain envelopes (meningitis) and peripheral nerves (neuritis), such as brain abscess, herpetic meningoencephalitis, aspergilloma, cerebral hydatic cyst
• some infections of the peripheral nervous system, such as tetanus and botulism
• neoplasms - tumors of the brain and its envelopes (brain tumors), spinal cord tumors, tumors of the peripheral nerves (neuroma)
• movement disorders such as Parkinson's disease, chorea, hemiballismus, tic disorder, and Gilles de la Tourette syndrome
• demyelinating diseases of the central nervous system, such as multiple sclerosis, and of the peripheral nervous system, such as Guillain-Barré syndrome and chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP)
• spinal cord disorders - tumors, infections, trauma, malformations (e.g., myelocele, meningomyelocele, tethered cord)
• disorders of peripheral nerves, muscle (myopathy) and neuromuscular junctions
• traumatic injuries to the brain, spinal cord and peripheral nerves
• altered mental status, encephalopathy, stupor and coma

More on [ Neurology ]

BBC News | Health | World Edition

Self-help 'makes you feel worse'
Fri, 03 Jul 2009 23:06:55 -0000
Bridget Jones is not alone in turning to self-help mantras to boost her spirits, but a study warns they may have the opposite effect.
WHO warns swine flu 'unstoppable'
Fri, 03 Jul 2009 03:00:11 -0000
The UN's top health official tells a swine flu forum in Mexico that the spread of the virus worldwide is now unstoppable.
Solo life ups gene dementia risk
Thu, 02 Jul 2009 23:25:24 -0000
People who have a gene flaw and live alone in middle-age are at highest risk of developing dementia, a study suggests.
Flu risk for indigenous peoples
Fri, 03 Jul 2009 09:03:27 -0000
Indigenous peoples, such as Aborigines and Native Americans, have a higher risk from swine flu, experts warn.
Four pints 'increase health risk'
Thu, 02 Jul 2009 10:01:55 -0000
Men who drink four pints of beer a week could be increasing their lifetime risk of needing hospital treatment, a study says.
Warning over fake Tamiflu sales
Fri, 03 Jul 2009 07:25:56 -0000
People should not buy anti-flu drug Tamiflu over the internet without a prescription, experts warn.

NYT > Health

Patient Money: For a Frugal Dieter, Weight Loss on a Sliding Scale
By LESLEY ALDERMAN Sat, 04 Jul 2009 05:42:07 -0000
A dieter’s commitment to weight loss can sometimes be linked to how much money he or she is willing to spend.
Global Update: Tuberculosis: TB Vaccine Too Dangerous for Babies With AIDS Virus, Study Says
By DONALD G. McNEIL Jr. Sat, 04 Jul 2009 04:40:26 -0000
A common tuberculosis vaccine is too risky to give to those born infected with the AIDS virus, says a new study published by the World Health Organization.

CNN.com - Health

Police: Hospital worker swiped shots, spread hep C
Fri, 03 Jul 2009 18:18:42 -0400
A former hospital employee may have exposed hundreds or thousands of surgical patients to hepatitis C when she replaced clean needles filled with the powerful painkiller fentanyl with her own dirty needles filled with saline solution.

Subscribe to Medicine RSS feed