Brain Diseases

When the brain is healthy it functions quickly and automatically. However, when problems occur, the results can be devastating. Some of the major types of disorders include:

  • neurogenetic diseases, eg. Huntington’s disease and muscular dystrophy;
  • developmental disorders, eg. cerebral palsy;
  • degenerative diseases of adult life, eg. Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease;
  • metabolic diseases, eg. Gaucher’s disease;
  • cerebrovascular diseases, eg. stroke and vascular dementia;
  • trauma, eg. spinal cord and head injury;
  • convulsive disorders, eg. epilepsy;
  • infectious diseases, eg. AIDS dementia; and
  • brain tumors

The Howard Florey Institute: Australia's brain research centre conducts research to develop treatments and new medical practices for brain disorders.

Follow the links below to find information relating to brain diseases.

Reviewed March 2009

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Related HealthInsite Topics

Brain Cancer
HealthInsite Topic Page
Links to information on brain cancer or brain tumours, including treatment and risk factors.
Cerebral Palsy
HealthInsite Topic Page
Links to information on cerebral palsy.
Coma
HealthInsite Topic Page
Links to information about coma.
Dementia
HealthInsite Topic Page
Links to information on dementia and about support services for sufferers, their carers and their families.
Encephalitis
HealthInsite Topic Page
Links to information on encephalitis.
Epilepsy
HealthInsite Topic Page
Links to information on epilepsy.
Huntington's Disease
HealthInsite Topic Page
Links to information and support for people affected by Huntington´s Disease.
Migraine
HealthInsite Topic Page
Links to information on migraine headaches.
Muscular Dystrophy
HealthInsite Topic Page
Links to information on muscular dystrophy.
Parkinson's Disease
HealthInsite Topic Page
Links to information on Parkinson´s Disease.
Stroke
HealthInsite Topic Page
Links to information on stroke and its symptoms, diagnosis, prevention, treatment, risk factors, support services and statistics.
Tourette Syndrome
HealthInsite Topic Page
Links to information about Tourette Syndrome.
Tuberous Sclerosis
HealthInsite Topic Page
Links to information about tuberous sclerosis, a genetic disorder that commonly causes tuber like growths in the brain.
Systematic Reviews of Treatments for Brain Diseases
HealthInsite Topic Page
Links to systematic reviews of the evidence for the effectiveness of therapies for brain diseases

42 Resources Found
Results 1 to 20 displayed.
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Title:   Rett syndrome
Publisher:   Better Health Channel
Description:   Rett syndrome is a severe genetic disorder of the nervous system. It is usually only seen in girls and affects all body movement. It causes loss of speech and hand use. Girls with Rett syndrome need therapy to help them with movement and communication.
Date:   Jul 2009

Title:   Antibiotics for brain abscesses in people with cyanotic congenital heart disease
Publisher:   John Wiley and Sons, Ltd. for The Cochrane Collaboration
Description:   Serious congenital heart disease leads to abnormal blood flow through the heart and lungs. This results in an inability to carry enough oxygen around the body which makes patients blue (cyanotic) and severely limits their physical activity. People with ...
Date:   Jul 2009

Title:   EEG test
Publisher:   Better Health Channel
Description:   The electroencephalogram (EEG) is a medical test used to measure the electrical activity of the brain, via electrodes applied to your scalp. Another name for EEG is brain wave test. EEG can help diagnose a number of conditions, including epilepsy, sleep disorders and brain tumours. A person with epilepsy may experience a seizure, triggered by the various stimuli used in the procedure, including the flashing lights.
Date:   May 2009

Title:   Gaucher disease
Publisher:   Virtual Medical Centre.com
Description:   Gaucher disease is an inherited genetic disorder that leads to the build up of fatty deposits in multiple organs within the body, including the spleen, liver, bone marrow and, rarely, the brain.
Date:   May 2009

Title:   Tay-Sachs disease
Publisher:   Better Health Channel
Description:   Tay-Sachs disease (TSD) is an inherited (genetic) condition common in some Ashkenazi Jews and French-Canadians or people with Ashkenazi Jewish or French-Canadian ancestry. However, it can affect people of any nationality. A mutated gene stops the body from producing an enzyme needed for proper brain functioning. This leads to paralysis and death, usually before the age of five.
Date:   Apr 2009

Title:   Hypothermia for traumatic head injury
Publisher:   John Wiley and Sons, Ltd. for The Cochrane Collaboration
Description:   This review includes twenty-three randomised controlled trials involving 1614 patients with traumatic head injury. In each trial, the patients were randomly divided into two groups: one group remained at normal body temperature, and the other group was ...
Date:   Apr 2009

Title:   Difficulty in speaking
Publisher:   The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners
Description:   Consult this chart if you have or recently have had difficulty in finding or using words or if your speech has become unclear Such speech difficulties may be related to disorders affecting the brain
Date:   Mar 2009

Title:   Brainlink Services Limited
Publisher:   Brainlink Foundation
Description:   Supporting people affected by stroke, migraine and other brain acquired injuries and their carers. Prevention through education and research.
Date:   Feb 2009

Title:   Interventions for idiopathic intracranial hypertension
Publisher:   John Wiley and Sons, Ltd. for The Cochrane Collaboration
Description:   Idiopathic intracranial hypertension is a condition in which there is increased pressure inside the head without any obvious cause. This generally results in swelling of the optic disc (the point where the optic nerve meets the eye). The swelling in tur...
Date:   Dec 2008

Title:   Brain surgery
Publisher:   Better Health Channel
Description:   Brain surgery usually involves a procedure called a craniotomy. A craniotomy is an operation to open the skull. Brain surgery is performed for a number of reasons, including alterations in brain tissue, brain blood flow and cerebrospinal fluid.
Date:   Oct 2008

Title:   Leukodystrophy
Publisher:   Better Health Channel
Description:   Leukodystrophy refers to a group of conditions that mainly affect the white ('leuko') matter of the brain and the spinal cord, including myelin. These are usually progressive conditions that cause loss of normal brain functions. Symptoms usually appear in early childhood. There is no cure, but treatment can help manage some of the symptoms.
Date:   Sep 2008

Title:   Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for Gaucher disease
Publisher:   John Wiley and Sons, Ltd. for The Cochrane Collaboration
Description:   Gaucher disease is an inherited disorder caused by a deficiency of the enzyme glucocerebrosidase. This leads to storage of complex lipids in some types of blood cells. Due to these abnormal cells people with Gaucher disease will have pain, fatigue, anem...
Date:   Aug 2008

Title:   Sleep disorders - narcolepsy
Publisher:   Better Health Channel
Description:   A person with narcolepsy is extremely sleepy all the time and, in severe cases, falls asleep involuntarily several times every day. It is thought that narcolepsy is caused by a malfunctioning of the hypothalamus in the brain. This is a rare condition with no cure.
Date:   Jul 2008

Title:   Brain explained
Publisher:   Better Health Channel
Description:   The brain oversees bodily functions and allows consciousness. The brain can be affected by disorders and events such as trauma, stroke and tumours. Some drugs, including alcohol, also affect the brain. Symptoms and effects depend on which brain areas are affected.
Date:   Jun 2008

Title:   Subarachnoid haemorrhage
Publisher:   Better Health Channel
Description:   A subarachnoid haemorrhage is a bleed usually associated with aneurysms or other weakened blood vessels of the brain. It can be fatal if not diagnosed and treated promptly. Causes include a cerebral aneurysm, arteriovenous malformation (AVM) or trauma such as a blow to the head.
Date:   Mar 2008

Title:   Steroids for treating cerebral malaria
Publisher:   John Wiley and Sons, Ltd. for The Cochrane Collaboration
Description:   Cerebral malaria is a severe form of the disease that can induce convulsions and coma; about 15% to 50% of patients with cerebral malaria will die, and 5% to 10% of survivors are left disabled as a result of brain damage....

Title:   Benign intracranial hypertension (BIH)
Publisher:   Virtual Medical Centre.com
Description:   Information covering the symptoms, treatment and diagnosis of Benign intracranial hypertension (BIH).
Date:   Feb 2008

Title:   About the Florey
Publisher:   Howard Florey Institute
Description:   The Howard Florey Institute is Australia's largest brain research institute. The Florey's scientists are at the forefront of the neuroscience revolution that promises to improve individual and community health around the world.
Date:   Nov 2007

Title:   Our services
Publisher:   Brainlink Foundation
Description:   We assist children and adults affected by brain disorders to live as independently as possible in the community through the provision of information and support services.
Date:   Sep 2007

Title:   Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) treatments - myDr.com.au
Publisher:   myDr
Description:   Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a problem related to brain development. Find out how doctors treat ADHD with medicines and psychological therapy.
Date:   Jul 2007
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