brain disorders

#Genetic disorders #Health topics - T #Neurodiversity and neurodivergence

Tourette syndrome

By Dr. Ahmed Hafez

Key facts Tourette syndrome is a genetic inherited neurological disorder, which means it can be passed on from birth parents to their children. Signs of Tourette syndrome usually begins between 2 and 21 years of age. It causes people to make involuntary and uncontrollable vocal sounds and movements called tics. People with movement tics can find themselves jerking their head, stretching their neck, stamping their feet, and twisting and bending. People with vocal tics might clear their throat, cough, sniff, click their tongue, grunt, yelp, bark or shout. There is no cure for Tourette syndrome, but treatment with medicines can

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#Health topics - S

Stroke

By Dr. Ahmed Hafez

Key facts A stroke occurs when your brain can’t get enough oxygen and important nutrients. This is usually because a blood clot or sudden bleed reduces the blood supply. Signs of a stroke can include a drooping face, difficulty moving your arm(s), or slurred speech. If you notice signs of a stroke, call triple zero (000) immediately, since any delay may lead to permanent brain damage or death. You can reduce your chance of having a stroke by managing risk factors such as high blood pressure and cholesterol. Eating healthily and exercising will also help. What is a stroke? A

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#Health topics - S

Seizures

By Dr. Ahmed Hafez

Key facts Seizures are due to sudden, temporary, abnormal electrical signals firing in the brain. Seizures lead to changes in behaviours, movement, level or awareness and feelings. Epilepsy occurs when you have recurrent seizures. For most people, medicines are effective in managing seizures. Febrile seizures is a fit (convulsion) caused by a sudden change in your child’s body temperature, and don’t usually cause long term problems. What is a seizure? Seizures are caused by sudden and uncoordinated changes to electrical signals in the brain. This can cause temporary (short-term) changes in behaviours, feelings, movements (such as sudden stiffening and jerking

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#Health topics - T

Tests used in diagnosing dementia

By Dr. Ahmed Hafez

Personal history A doctor may talk to the person about their medical history and gather information about any changes in their memory and thinking. Due to the progressive nature of the disease, it is usually helpful to have someone close to the person affected also help with the taking of their personal history. The doctor may at this time suggest a simple cognitive test (see below). There are also several other types of test they can do to help diagnose dementia. Physical examination A doctor may examine the person for any physical causes of their symptoms. Neurological examination This will

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#Health topics - L

Living with dementia

By Dr. Ahmed Hafez

Key facts It is normal to feel a range of emotions after you are diagnosed with dementia. Dementia can make it hard to complete some everyday tasks. There are many strategies you can use to have a full and active life with dementia. It’s important to seek support from your friends, family and doctor. They can help you maximise your quality of life with dementia. Being diagnosed with dementia can be difficult. At first, you may not notice anything different. But over time, dementia can make it more challenging for you to complete everyday tasks. With support, you can still

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#Health topics - A

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and dementia

By Dr. Ahmed Hafez

What is dementia? Dementia is a broad term used to describe the gradual loss of someone’s memory, thinking and social skills. In many ways, dementia in Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people is no different from dementia in any other population.  Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people experience dementia at a rate 3 to 5 times higher than the general population. They are also more likely to develop dementia at a younger age (in their 30s or 40s). This article highlights some issues that are particularly important for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people. It is drawn from several sources,

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#Health topics - C

Creating a calming, helpful home for people with dementia

By Dr. Ahmed Hafez

Key facts For people with dementia, their physical environment can play an important role in helping them stay safe, comfortable and as independent as possible. Small changes like labelling cupboards and installing handrails can help with problems like memory loss, disorientation, coordination and mobility. It’s important to only make changes to address the person’s particular challenges. Any unnecessary changes may only add to their confusion. Making sure rooms are safe and familiar can help a person with dementia to feel calm and recall happy memories. Supportive aids like medication reminders and blister packs can reduce the risk of accidents, support

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#Health topics - W #Memory disorders

Worried about your memory?

By Dr. Ahmed Hafez

Key facts Memory loss is linked with many conditions, including dementia. Major changes in your memory are not normal at any age. You should see your doctor if your memory problems are affecting your daily life. The treatment for memory loss will depend on what’s causing it. What is memory loss? If you are getting forgetful or confused, you might be worried it’s dementia. Everyone forgets things from time to time, but memory loss (amnesia) is linked with many conditions, including dementia. Some memory loss can happen as a part of normal ageing. Memory change with healthy ageing doesn’t interfere

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#Health topics - D #Memory disorders

Dementia – an overview

By Dr. Ahmed Hafez

Key facts Dementia is a condition that affects your thinking, behaviour and ability to do everyday tasks. While dementia is more common in older Australians, it is not a normal part of ageing. See your doctor if you have memory loss, difficulty with familiar tasks, language problems or changes in mood or personality. There is no cure for dementia. Caring for someone with dementia can be difficult, so make sure you get help and look after yourself. What is dementia? Dementia is a broad term used to describe the gradual loss of your: memory intellect ability to think rationally social

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#Health topics - B

Brain tumours

By Dr. Ahmed Hafez

What is a brain tumour? A brain tumour is a lump of abnormal cells growing in your brain. Your brain controls all the parts of your body and its functions and produces your thoughts. Depending on where it is, a tumour in your brain can affect these functions. When cells grow abnormally they may form a lump called a tumour. Tumours can be benign or malignant. A benign tumour grows slowly and stays in one place. It is unlikely to spread to another part of your body. Benign tumours are not cancerous. But a benign brain tumour may cause damage

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#Health topics - A

Absence seizures

By Dr. Ahmed Hafez

Key facts Absence seizures are a type of epilepsy seizure that affects both sides of the brain at the same time. An absence seizure causes the person to looks like they are daydreaming or not paying attention. Absence seizures can usually be prevented with medicines. Some children will grow out of absence seizures by their teens, and be able to stop taking medicines. It is important that if you are caring for a child who has had seizures that you are aware of seizure safety. What is an absence seizure? An absence seizure is a type of seizure that affects

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#Health topics - P #Nervous system diseases #Seniors' health

Parkinson’s disease

By Sama Mohamed

Key facts Parkinson’s disease occurs when the nerve cells in your brain don’t make enough of a body chemical called dopamine, which affects your movement and mood. Common symptoms may include tremors, muscle stiffness, slowing of movement and posture changes, but confirming if you have Parkinson’s can take time. There are a wide variety of other symptoms that you may or may not experience, and could be caused by different conditions. Parkinson’s disease usually occurs around age 65 years, but some people can be diagnosed when they’re younger than 45 years. Medicines, surgery and lifestyle changes can all help treat

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#Health topics - M

Migraine

By Sama Mohamed

Key facts Migraine is a common problem, involving severe headaches, nausea, vomiting or sensitivity to light or sound. You might get an aura before the headache starts, where you may see flashing lights or have trouble talking. Migraine attacks can have many different triggers, such as stress, missing meals, eating certain foods, hormonal changes or not getting enough sleep. When a migraine attack starts, sleeping in a dark, quiet room and taking pain-relieving medicines straight away, may stop the attack. If you get migraines often, maintaining a healthy lifestyle and taking a preventive medicine can make them less frequent and

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#Childhood illnesses #Health topics - M #kid's health

Meningitis

By Sama Mohamed

Key facts Meningitis is an infection of the membranes surrounding your brain and spinal cord. It can be caused by an infection with bacteria, viruses or fungi. Meningitis is a serious illness that needs urgent treatment. There are vaccines available that can help prevent meningitis. What is meningitis? Meningitis is a rare but serious infection of your meninges (the membranes covering your brain and spinal cord). Meningitis is usually caused by a virus or bacteria, and sometimes it’s caused by a fungus. Viral meningitis is usually a less dangerous form of meningitis and most commonly affects children. Bacterial meningitis is a

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#Health topics - L

Lewy body disease

By Sama Mohamed

What is Lewy body disease? Lewy body disease is a disorder where round clumps of protein (called Lewy bodies) build up abnormally in the brain, causing the death of nerve cells. The Lewy bodies affect specific areas of the brain, which leads to symptoms affecting memory, thinking, movement and behaviour. Lewy body disease is a feature of several conditions, including: dementia with Lewy bodies Parkinson’s disease Parkinson’s disease dementia The term Lewy body dementia is used to describe the brain changes caused by Lewy bodies that is seen in all the conditions. What are the symptoms of Lewy body disease?

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#Health topics - H

Hydrocephalus

By Sama Mohamed

Key facts Hydrocephalus is caused by a build-up of cerebrospinal fluid in your brain. The most common symptoms are headache, nausea, vomiting and seizures. Hydrocephalus can affect babies, children, and adults. It is diagnosed by ultrasound, CT scan or MRI scan. Hydrocephalus is usually treated with a shunt to relieve pressure in the brain. What is hydrocephalus? Hydrocephalus is a condition caused by too much cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in your brain. Too much fluid creates pressure that can damage your brain. Normally, CSF is made in your brain. It cushions your brain, provides nutrients, and remove toxins. CSF is removed

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#Genetic disorders #Health topics - H

Huntington’s disease

By Sama Mohamed

Key facts Huntington’s disease is an inherited condition that affects the nervous system. Huntington’s disease is caused by a faulty gene that someone is born with. The most identifiable physical symptom is called chorea — rapid, involuntary movements of the fingers, limbs or facial muscles. Other cognitive and emotional symptoms include impulsiveness and difficulty communicating. There is currently no cure or effective treatment for Huntington’s disease. What is Huntington’s disease? Huntington’s disease is an inherited condition that affects the nervous system. Although Huntington’s disease can occur at any age, symptoms often do not appear until your 40s or 50s. Huntington’s disease is

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#Accidents and injuries #Health topics - H

Head injuries

By Sama Mohamed

What is a head injury? A head injury is a knock to the head. It can be mild, resulting in a small lump or bruise, or it can be more serious, leading to brain injuries such as concussion or bleeding on the brain. Head injuries can be serious even if you can’t see them. They can lead to permanent disability or impairment, or even death. More severe head injuries always need to be seen by a doctor. When should I call an ambulance or go to the emergency department? You should always keep a close eye on anyone who has had

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#Health topics - G

Gliomas in children

By Sama Mohamed

Key facts A glioma is a tumour that grows in the glial cells of the brain or spinal cord. There are different types of gliomas. There are several treatment options for gliomas in children. What is a glioma? A glioma is a tumour that grows in the glial cells of the brain and spinal cord. Glial cells surround nerve cells and help them work properly. Gliomas can be benign (not cancerous) or malignant (cancerous). In children, they can grow in: the cerebrum (the front part of the brain) the cerebellum (the back part of the brain) the brain stem (the part of the

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#Health topics - F

Frontotemporal dementia

By Sama Mohamed

What is frontotemporal dementia? Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is a term for several diseases that affect the front and side lobes of the brain — the parts of the brain that control mood, social behaviour, attention, judgement, planning and self-control. It often affects people at a younger age than Alzheimer’s disease, typically between 45 and 65. FTD causes the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain to progressively shrink (atrophy). Depending on which parts of the brain are affected, a person with FTD may experience reduced intellectual abilities, personality changes, emotional problems, or lose the ability to use language. Unlike in Alzheimer’s

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#Health topics - E #Nervous system diseases

Epilepsy

By Sama Mohamed

What is epilepsy? Epilepsy is a long-term brain condition where a person has repeated seizures (fits). It is thought to affect about 3 in every 100 Australians. Having just one seizure is not considered to be epilepsy — about half the people who have one seizure never have another seizure. Epilepsy is not one single condition. There are a range of different conditions that can cause seizures. Seizures usually last 1 to 3 minutes. If someone has a seizure that lasts for more than 5 minutes, call an ambulance on triple zero (000). If you see someone having a seizure, you can

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#Health topics - E #Memory disorders

Encephalopathy

By Sama Mohamed

Key facts Encephalopathy refers to the symptoms you experience when your brain is not working normally. There are many different causes of encephalopathy. Treatments for encephalopathy depend on the cause and may treat the symptoms or the underlying cause. What is encephalopathy? The word encephalopathy describes any disease that affects the whole brain and alters its structure or how it works, and causes changes in mental function. What are the symptoms of encephalopathy? The symptoms of encephalopathy vary from person to person. The most common symptom of encephalopathy is a change in mental state, with problems such as: loss of

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#Health topics - E

Encephalitis

By Sama Mohamed

Key facts Encephalitis is inflammation of your brain, which can be life-threatening. It is most commonly caused by a virus. Encephalitis can cause drowsiness, confusion, seizures, fever and headache. It requires emergency treatment in hospital, including tests to find the cause. After recovering from encephalitis, you may have ongoing problems such as epilepsy, fatigue or difficulty with memory, balance, hearing or speech. What is encephalitis? Encephalitis is an inflammation of the brain. It is usually caused by a virus. It is rare but potentially life-threatening. It can lead to permanent brain damage. What causes encephalitis? There are 2 main types of

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#Health topics - D

Dysarthria

By Sama Mohamed

What is dysarthria? Dysarthria occurs when the muscles used to breath and speak are weakened or paralysed, making speech slurred and hard to understand. Speech therapy can help make speech clearer. Dysarthria is characterised by slurred or unclear speech due to nerve or brain damage affecting the muscles that control the tongue, lips, palate, jaw and larynx. Other things that can be affected include: breathing the ability to make clear sounds the rhythm of speech how loudly someone speaks Dysarthria can be mild or severe. It can also occur along with other speech and language problems, including apraxia of speech or aphasia

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#Health topics - D

Dementia and driving

By Sama Mohamed

Dementia and driving What is dementia? Dementia is a condition that affects a person’s thinking, behaviour and ability to perform everyday tasks. There are many causes of dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia. Dementia is more common in older people but can affect people in their 40s and 50s. Dementia can affect memory, concentration, judgement and vision, which makes driving a car more difficult. If you have dementia, regular medical check-ups can help you keep track of your condition and whether it is safe for you to drive. How does dementia affect driving ability? Dementia can make driving unsafe because it can affect

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#Health topics - D

Dementia (vascular)

By Sama Mohamed

Vascular dementia What is vascular dementia? Vascular dementia is a form of dementia that develops because of problems with the blood’s circulation to the brain. It causes problems with reasoning, planning, judgement, memory and other thinking. Vascular dementia is the second most common form of dementia after Alzheimer’s disease. People with vascular dementia tend to decline more rapidly than people with Alzheimer’s disease. What are the symptoms of vascular dementia? The symptoms of vascular dementia are often similar to those of Alzheimer’s disease, and the 2 conditions often occur together. The symptoms of vascular dementia depend on which part of the

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#Health topics - D

Dementia (an overview)

By Sama Mohamed

Key facts Dementia is a condition that affects your thinking, behaviour and ability to do everyday tasks. While dementia is more common in older Australians, it is not a normal part of ageing. See your doctor if you have memory loss, difficulty with familiar tasks, language problems or changes in mood or personality. There is no cure for dementia. Caring for someone with dementia can be difficult, so make sure you get help and look after yourself. What is dementia? Dementia is a broad term used to describe the gradual loss of your: memory intellect ability to think rationally social

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#Health topics - C

Concussion

By Sama Mohamed

Key facts Concussion is a mild brain injury caused by a knock or blow to the head or a sudden change in motion. Concussions are common in contact sports such as football and boxing. Common symptoms of concussion are confusion, memory loss, headache, vomiting and vision or speech problems. If you think someone has had a concussion while playing sport, they should not return to play that day, even if they feel well. The main treatment for concussion is rest, followed by a gradual return to physical and mental activity. What is concussion? Concussion is a minor traumatic brain injury

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#Health topics - B

Brain aneurysm

By Sama Mohamed

Key facts A brain aneurysm is a bulge in an artery in your brain. If an aneurysm leaks or bursts, it can cause a stroke (bleeding on your brain). Many people have a brain aneurysm without realising it. What is a brain aneurysm? A brain aneurysm — cerebral aneurysm or berry aneurysm — is a bulge in an artery in your brain. It’s caused by a weak spot in your artery wall. If a brain aneurysm leaks or bursts, it can cause haemorrhagic stroke (bleeding on your brain). This can quickly become life threatening. About 2 people in 100 have a brain aneurysm. Some

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#Health topics - M #Nervous system diseases

Motor neurone disease (MND)

By Sama Mohamed

What is MND? Motor neurone disease (MND) is the name for a group of diseases. These diseases affect nerves known as motor nerves, or motor neurons. In MND, these neurons degenerate and die. This causes the muscles to become weaker and weaker. This eventually leads to paralysis. The MND disease group includes: Lou Gehrig’s disease, also known as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) progressive muscular atrophy (PMA) progressive bulbar palsy (PBP) primary lateral sclerosis (PLS) Kennedy’s disease, also known as spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA) MND is an uncommon disease. The average age that people are diagnosed with MND is

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#Health topics - S

Supporting carers of people with dementia

By Sama Mohamed

Key facts It can be physically and emotionally demanding to care for someone with dementia. You can get help to care for someone with dementia. It is important you look after yourself, so you can stay well and keep giving care. Respite is when someone else takes care of the person to give you a break. You can choose from different types of respite care, including adult day care centres and long-term care facilities. What does caring for someone with dementia involve? Caregiving can be both rewarding and challenging. Some carers are in paid roles, but often carers are family

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