Neurodegenerative disorder is an umbrella term encompassing various medical conditions, all of which involve the progressive decline in structure or function of nerve cells. This process typically occurs slowly and over a long period, leading to serious consequences for the physical, mental, and cognitive health of the affected individual.
1. What is a Neurodegenerative Disease?
Neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs) are a diverse group of conditions characterized by the selective dysfunction and progressive loss of neurons, glial cells, and neural networks in the brain and spinal cord. As a result, they cause a variety of problems, for example, with movement (called Ataxia), mental function (called dementia), and a person’s ability to move, speak and breathe. NDDs are incurable and debilitating conditions that are becoming increasingly common, partly due to the aging global population.
Some common neurodegenerative diseases include:
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) | Causes memory loss, cognitive decline, and behavioral changes. It is the most common form of dementia, affecting the ability to remember, think, and perform daily activities. |
Parkinson’s disease (PD) | Affects movement, causing tremors, stiffness, and difficulty with walking. Individuals with PD often experience challenges controlling their body movements, significantly impacting their daily lives. |
Huntington’s disease (HD) | A genetic disorder that causes involuntary movements, cognitive decline, and psychiatric problems. The disease typically begins in middle age, leading to motor symptoms, dementia, and psychological issues. |
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) | Causes muscle weakness, atrophy, and eventually paralysis. ALS affects the nerve cells that control muscle movement, leading to a gradual loss of the ability to move, speak, swallow, and ultimately breathe. |
Motor Neuron Disease (MND) | A group of diseases affecting motor neurons, leading to muscle weakness, atrophy, and difficulties controlling movements. ALS is a common form of MND. |
Spinocerebellar ataxia (SCA) | Causes problems with coordination, balance, and speech. Individuals with SCA often experience difficulty walking, talking, and performing tasks that require precise coordination. |
Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) | A genetic disease that affects the motor neurons in the spinal cord, causing muscle weakness and atrophy. SMA typically affects children, causing difficulties with movement, sitting, crawling, and walking. |
Neurodegenerative diseases are becoming increasingly prevalent worldwide, affecting an estimated 50 million people in 2019 and projected to rise to 152 million by 2060. These conditions do not discriminate based on age or geographic region. Notably, the prevalence of dementia due to neurodegenerative diseases is significantly increasing in Europe, particularly among the elderly population.
The WHO warns that without timely global intervention, the burden of neurological disorders will pose a serious threat to public health. We must improve our understanding of the causes of neurodegenerative diseases and develop new methods for treatment and prevention.

2. Causes and High-Risk Groups
While the exact causes of most neurodegenerative diseases remain unclear, the following factors are believed to be involved:
- Age: The risk of neurodegenerative diseases increases with age.
- Genetics: Some neurodegenerative diseases are hereditary, such as Huntington’s disease.
- Environment: Exposure to toxins, head injuries, and unhealthy lifestyles (smoking, alcohol abuse) can also increase the risk.
- Other factors: Obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol are also thought to be linked to neurodegenerative diseases.
High-risk groups:
- Older adults
- People with a family history of neurodegenerative diseases
- People exposed to environmental risk factors
3. Signs and Symptoms
The signs and symptoms of neurodegenerative diseases are diverse, depending on the specific disease and the location of the damage within the nervous system. However, some common symptoms include:
- Memory impairment: Difficulty remembering new information, forgetting names, forgetting events.
- Language disorders: Difficulty finding words, stuttering, difficulty understanding others’ speech.
- Movement disorders: Tremors, stiffness, difficulty moving, loss of balance.
- Behavioral changes: Irritability, anxiety, depression, apathy.
- Cognitive decline: Difficulty concentrating, problem-solving, making decisions.

4. Consequences and Impact
Neurodegenerative diseases have serious consequences for the health and quality of life of those affected, including:
- Loss of independence: Individuals may experience difficulty performing daily activities such as eating, bathing, and dressing.
- Reduced quality of life: The disease affects the ability to work, socialize, and enjoy life.
- Burden on family and society: Caring for someone with a neurodegenerative disease requires significant time, effort, and financial resources.
5. Diagnosis and Treatment/Prevention
5.1. Diagnosis
Diagnosing a neurodegenerative disease often involves the following:
- Medical history: The doctor will inquire about symptoms and personal and family medical history.
- Clinical examination: Assessment of neurological, motor, and mental functions.
- Tests: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT) scans, blood tests, cerebrospinal fluid analysis.
5.2. Treatment
Currently, there is no cure for neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs). However, available treatments can help slow the progression of the disease, reduce symptoms, and improve the quality of life for patients. Treatment methods include:
- Medication: To help control symptoms and slow the degeneration process.
- Physical therapy, such as gait training
- Speech therapy, such as swallowing and speaking exercises
- Occupational therapy, such as home modification
- Psychiatry, such as treatment for depression
Research is underway to find much-needed new treatments for neurodegenerative disorders. One new treatment approach uses stem cells to replace dead neurons.
5.3. Prevention
Although it is not possible to completely prevent neurodegenerative diseases, the risk can be minimized by:
- Adopting a healthy lifestyle: Eating a balanced diet, exercising regularly, not smoking, and limiting alcohol consumption.
- Managing underlying conditions: Diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol.
- Exercising the brain: Reading, playing games, learning a new language.
- Rejuvenating the nervous system/slowing down the aging of the nervous system: By supplementing with antioxidants, maintaining a proper diet, exercising regularly, managing stress… can help protect and rejuvenate the nervous system, thereby effectively preventing neurodegenerative diseases.
Neurodegenerative diseases are a major challenge to public health. Learning about the disease, recognizing the signs early, and taking preventive measures are important to protect the health of yourself and your family.
References: niehs.nih.gov ; sciencedirect.com ; medlineplus.gov ; physio-pedia.com
Join the Club
Like this story? You’ll love our monthly newsletter.
Thank you for subscribing to the newsletter.
Oops. Something went wrong. Please try again later.
