Different problems with the brain can have various causes, such as illness, genetics, or injury. Each comes with different risks, diagnoses, and treatments.
What are brain disorders?
Your brain is your body’s control center. It’s part of the nervous system, which also includes the spinal cord and a large network of nerves and neurons. Together, the nervous system controls everything from your senses to the muscles throughout your body.
When your brain is damaged, it can affect many different things, including your memory, your sensation, and even your personality. Brain disorders include any conditions or disabilities that affect your brain. This includes conditions that are caused by:
illness
genetics
traumatic injury
This is a broad category of disorders, which vary greatly in symptoms and severity. Keep reading to learn about some of the largest categories of brain disorders.
What are the different types of brain disorders?
Brain injuries
Brain injuries are often caused by blunt trauma. Trauma can damage your brain tissue, neurons, and nerves. This damage affects your brain’s ability to communicate with the rest of your body. Examples of brain injuries include:
hematomas
blood clots
contusions, or bruising of brain tissue
cerebral edema, or swelling inside the skull
concussions
strokes
Examples of the symptoms of a brain injury :
vomiting
nausea
speech difficulty
bleeding from the ear
numbness
headaches
paralysis
memory loss
problems with concentration
Later, you may develop:
high blood pressure
a low heart rate
pupil dilation
irregular breathing
Depending on the type of injury you have, treatment may include:
medication
rehabilitation
brain surgery
Many people with severe brain injuries need surgery to remove or repair damaged tissue or to relieve pressure. People with minor brain injuries may not need any treatment beyond pain medication.
Most people with brain injuries need rehabilitation. This can include:
physical therapy
speech and language therapy
psychiatric services
Brain tumors
Sometimes, tumors form in the brain and can be very dangerous. These are called primary brain tumors. In other cases, cancer somewhere else in your body spreads to your brain. These are called secondary or metastatic brain tumors.
Brain tumors can be either malignant (cancerous) or benign (noncancerous). Doctors classify brain tumors as grades 1, 2, 3, or 4. Higher numbers indicate more aggressive tumors.
The cause of brain tumors is largely unknown. They can occur in people of any age. Symptoms of brain tumors depend on the size and location of the tumor. The most common symptoms of brain tumors are:
headaches
seizures
numbness or tingling in your arms or legs
nausea
vomiting
changes in personality
difficulty with movement or balance
changes in your hearing, speech, or vision
The type of treatment you’ll receive depends on many different factors, such as the size of the tumor, your age, and your overall health. The main types of treatment for brain tumors are:
surgery
chemotherapy
radiation therapy
Neurodegenerative diseases
Neurodegenerative diseases cause your brain and nerves to deteriorate over time. They can change your personality and cause confusion. They can also destroy your brain’s tissue and nerves.
Some brain diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease, may develop as you age. They can slowly impair your memory and thought processes. Other diseases, such as Tay-Sachs disease, are genetic and begin at an early age. Other common neurodegenerative diseases include:
Huntington’s disease
amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), or Lou Gehrig’s disease
Parkinson’s disease
all forms of dementia
Some of the more common symptoms of neurodegenerative include:
memory loss
forgetfulness
apathy
anxiety
agitation
a loss of inhibition
mood changes
Neurodegenerative diseases cause permanent damage, so symptoms tend to get worse as the disease progresses. New symptoms are also likely to develop over time.
There’s no cure for neurodegenerative diseases, but treatment can help. The goal of treatment for these conditions it to try to reduce your symptoms and help you maintain quality of life. Treatment often involves the use of medications to better manage your symptoms.
Mental health disorders
Neurodegenerative diseases cause permanent damage, so symptoms tend to get worse as the disease progresses. New symptoms are also likely to develop over time.
There’s no cure for neurodegenerative diseases, but treatment can help. The goal of treatment for these conditions it to try to reduce your symptoms and help you maintain quality of life. Treatment often involves the use of medications to better manage your symptoms.
Mental health disorders
Mental health disorders, or mental health conditions, are a large and diverse group of issues that affect your behavior patterns. Some of the most frequently diagnosed mental health disorders are:
depression
anxiety
bipolar disorder
post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
schizophrenia
The symptoms of mental health conditions vary based on the condition. Different people can experience the same disorder very differently. You should talk with your doctor if you notice a change in your behavior, thought patterns, or moods.
The two major types of treatment for mental health conditions are medication and psychotherapy. Different methods work better for different conditions. Many people find that a combination of the two is the most effective.
If you think you might have a mental health disorder, it’s important to talk and work with a doctor to create a treatment plan that works for you. There are many resources available — do not try to self-medicate.
