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HomeKnowledge CenterWellness LibraryBrain and Nervous System
Brain and Nervous System
Learn about the brain and nervous system
Your brain and your nervous system work together to help you do things like see, smell, taste, feel, and move. Your nervous system sends signals to your brain to control these important functions. It also takes messages from your brain to your muscles, organs, and skin. But sometimes there is a problem, and the signals can't be sent. For example, with Parkinson's disease, nerve cells in the brain break down and can't send signals, so you may have trouble moving the way you want to. Other problems, like vertigo, happen when your sensing systems send false signals to your brain.
Our topics can help you learn more about your brain and nerve symptoms. Find out about certain diseases and disorders so you can understand the best treatment for your needs. To get started, explore these brain and nervous system topics:
Dizziness: Lightheadedness and Vertigo
Seizures
Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
Diabetic Neuropathy
Parkinson's Disease
Health Topics
Absence Epilepsy
Abusive Head Trauma
Acute Flaccid Myelitis
ADHD and Hyperactivity
ADHD in Adults: Behavioral Strategies
ADHD: Impulsivity and Inattention
ADHD: Symptoms in Adults
Agitation and Dementia
Alcohol Problems: How to Stop Drinking
Alcohol Use Disorder
Altitude Sickness
Alzheimer's and Other Dementias: Coping With Sundowning
Alzheimer's and Other Dementias: Maintaining Good Nutrition
Alzheimer's and Other Dementias: Making the Most of Remaining Abilities
Alzheimer's Disease
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
Anesthesia
Ankylosing Spondylitis
Anosmia
Antidepressant Withdrawal
Arachnoiditis
Aspirin for Pain, Fever, and Inflammation
Assistive Devices for People With Disabilities
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
Aura and Seizures
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
Autonomic Dysfunction
Avoiding Mercury in Fish
Back School for Low Back Pain
Bell's Palsy
Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV)
Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar Disorder in Children and Teens
Bipolar Disorder in Children: Other Health Problems That May Occur
Bipolar Disorder in Children: School Issues
Bipolar Disorder: Hypomanic Episodes
Botulism
Brain Aneurysm
Brandt-Daroff Exercise for Vertigo
Capsaicin
Caregiving: Making a Home Safe
Carole's Story: Taking Medicine Right Away to Stop a Migraine
Carotid Artery Disease
Carotid Artery Stenting
Carotid Endarterectomy
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Cerebral Palsy
Cervical Disc Herniation
Cervical Spinal Fusion
Cervical Spinal Stenosis
Cervical Spondylosis
Checklist for the Home for Vertigo
Chemo Brain
Chronic Pain
Chronic Pain Syndrome
Classification of Spinal Cord Injuries
Cochlear Implants
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Pain Management
Cognitive Development, Ages 15 to 18 Years
Cognitive Development, Ages 6 to 10 Years
Comparing Symptoms of Normal Moodiness With Depression in Children
Complex Regional Pain Syndrome
Concussion
Conditions With Symptoms Similar to Depression in Children and Teens
Confusion, Memory Loss, and Altered Alertness
Congenital Hydrocephalus
Decompressive Laminectomy for Lumbar Spinal Stenosis
Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) Surgery
Degenerative Disc Disease
Dementia
Dementia: Assessing Pain
Dementia: Legal Issues
Dementia: Medicines to Treat Behavior Changes
Dementia: Support for Caregivers
Dementia: Testing How Well a Person Functions
Dementia: Tips for Communicating
Dementia: Understanding Behavior Changes
Depression
Depression in Children and Teens
Diabetes: Amputation for Foot Problems
Diabetic Atypical Neuropathies
Diabetic Autonomic Neuropathy
Diabetic Neuropathy
Diabetic Neuropathy: Exercising Safely
Difficulty Swallowing (Dysphagia)
Discectomy for a Lumbar Herniated Disc
Dizziness: Lightheadedness and Vertigo
Driving a Car After a Stroke
Dyslexia
Electrical Nerve Stimulation for Chronic Pain
Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT)
Encephalitis
Endoscopic Carpal Tunnel Surgery
Epilepsy
Epilepsy and Driving
Epilepsy: Atonic Seizures
Epilepsy: Focal Aware Seizures
Epilepsy: Focal Impaired Awareness Seizures
Epilepsy: Generalized Seizures
Epilepsy: Generalized Tonic-Clonic Seizures
Epilepsy: Myoclonic Seizures
Epilepsy: Tonic Seizures
Epley and Semont Maneuvers for Vertigo
Essential Tremor
Evaluation and Treatment After a First Seizure
Expert: Be Active to Help Your Back Heal
Fainting
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD)
Focal Epilepsy
General Anesthesia
Guillain-Barré Syndrome
Head Injury, Age 3 and Younger
Head Injury, Age 4 and Older
Headache Clinics
Headaches
Hearing Loss
Heavy Sweating
Helping a Person During a Seizure
Hemorrhagic Stroke
How ADHD Affects Your Child
How Adolescent Thinking Develops
How Diabetes Causes Foot Problems
Huntington Disease Genetic Test
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
Hyperkalemia
Hypokalemia
Hyponatremia
Increased Intracranial Pressure
Infantile Spasms (West Syndrome)
Insomnia
Interactive Tool: Are You Depressed?
Intradiscal Electrothermal Therapy (IDET) for Low Back Pain
Intravenous (I.V.) Regional Anesthesia
Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy
Kernicterus
Labyrinthitis
Language Development Between 12 and 24 Months of Age
Language Development From Age 6 to 10 Years
Learning Disabilities
Leg Problems, Noninjury
Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome
Living With a Spinal Cord Injury
Living With More Than One Health Problem
Local Anesthesia
Lumbar Herniated Disc
Lumbar Spinal Fusion (Arthrodesis)
Lumbar Spinal Stenosis
Lumbar Spondylosis
Lyme Disease
Mad Cow Disease and Variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease
Medical History and Physical Exam for Dementia or Alzheimer's Disease
Medicines That Can Cause Weakness or Fatigue
Meditation
Melatonin
Memory Problems: Issues With Driving
Memory Problems: Tips for Helping the Person With Daily Tasks
Vertigo: Staying Safe When You Have Balance Problems
Vertigo: Walking Exercises
Vestibular Neuritis
Vitamin B12 Deficiency Anemia
Weakness and Fatigue
West Nile Virus
Worried About Using Opioids?
Wrist Splint for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Medical Tests
Angiogram
Angiogram of the Head and Neck
Computed Tomography (CT) Scan of the Head and Face
Computed Tomography (CT) Scan of the Spine
Cranial Ultrasound
Creatine Kinase Test
Electroencephalogram (EEG)
Electromyogram (EMG) and Nerve Conduction Studies
Electronystagmography (ENG)
Evoked Potential Test
Lyme Disease Test
Magnesium (Mg) Test
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) of the Head
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) of the Spine
Mental Health Assessment
Myelogram
Neurological Examination for Multiple Sclerosis
Neuropsychological Tests
Positron Emission Tomography (PET)
Seizure Medicine Levels in Blood Test
Self-Test for Breath Alcohol
Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT)
Sleep Studies
Spinal Tap (Lumbar Puncture)
Vitamin B12 Test
Make a Wise Decision
Alzheimer's Disease: Should I Take Medicines?
Depression: Should I Take an Antidepressant?
Insomnia: Should I Take Sleeping Pills?
Low Back Pain: Should I Try Epidural Steroid Shots?
Lumbar Herniated Disc: Should I Have Surgery?
Lumbar Spinal Stenosis: Should I Have Surgery?
Stroke Prevention: Should I Have a Carotid Artery Procedure?
Take Action
ADHD: Helping Your Child Get Things Done
Bipolar Disorder: Preventing Manic Episodes
Depression: Dealing With Medicine Side Effects
Depression: Taking Antidepressants Safely
Epilepsy: Taking Your Medicines Properly
Headaches: Managing a Headache
Migraines: Finding and Avoiding Triggers
Stroke Recovery: Coping With Eating Problems
Tension Headaches: Finding and Avoiding Triggers
Vertigo: Balance Exercises
Current as of: December 20, 2023
Author: Ignite Healthwise, LLC Staff
Clinical Review Board All Healthwise education is reviewed by a team that includes physicians, nurses, advanced practitioners, registered dieticians, and other healthcare professionals.
This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Ignite Healthwise, LLC, disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. Learn how we develop our content.
To learn more about Ignite Healthwise, LLC, visit webmdignite.com.
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