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, 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 about brain diseases.

Reviewed June 2011

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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

48 Resources Found

Results 1 to 20 displayed.     1  2  3 

Title:   Antiepileptic drugs for the primary and secondary prevention of seizures after intracranial venous thrombosis
Publisher:   John Wiley and Sons, Ltd. for The Cochrane Collaboration
Description:   Use of antiepileptic drugs may prevent seizures after blood clots block a vein or venous sinus (venous thrombosis) in the brain, in the immediate phase and in the long term. There is currently, however, no evidence from randomised controlled trials to s...
Date:   Nov 2011
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:   Oct 2011
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:   Oct 2011
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:   Oct 2011
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. Onset of symptoms is variable. In general, there is no definite cure. Treatment is mainly supportive.
Date:   Sep 2011
Title:   Probiotics for patients with hepatic encephalopathy
Publisher:   John Wiley and Sons, Ltd. for The Cochrane Collaboration
Description:   Hepatic encephalopathy is a disorder of the brain function as a result of liver failure and/or portosystemic shunt. It results in confusion, drowsiness, coma, and in some patients, in death. While the cause of hepatic encephalopathy is not fully unders...
Date:   Sep 2011
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:   Aug 2011
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:   Aug 2011
Title:   Calcium channel blockers for neuroleptic-induced tardive dyskinesia
Publisher:   John Wiley and Sons, Ltd. for The Cochrane Collaboration
Description:   Antipsychotic medication is associated with adverse effects, including tardive dyskinesia which is characterised by abnormal, repetitive, involuntary facial movements. Calcium channel blockers, originally developed for use in cardiovascular disorders, h...
Date:   Jun 2011
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 ruptured cerebral aneurysm, ruptured arteriovenous malformation (AVM), or trauma such as a blow to the head.
Date:   May 2011
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 2011
Title:   Benign intracranial hypertension (BIH, pseudotumour cerebri, PTC, idiopathic intracranial hypertension, IIH)
Publisher:   Virtual Medical Centre.com
Description:   Benign intracranial hypertension (BIH) is characterised by increased pressure in the brain without any evidence of any brain pathology by imaging studies, and by normal cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) content. It is also known as idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) and pseudotumour cerebri (PTC).
Date:   Mar 2011
Title:   Anticoagulation for cerebral venous sinus thrombosis
Publisher:   John Wiley and Sons, Ltd. for The Cochrane Collaboration
Description:   Blood thinning (anticoagulant) drugs may be beneficial for patients with clotting of the veins that surround the brain (sinus thrombosis). Sinus thrombosis is a rare condition where blood clots form in the veins that drain blood from the brain. However,...
Date:   Jan 2011
Title:   Vitamin E for neuroleptic-induced tardive dyskinesia
Publisher:   John Wiley and Sons, Ltd. for The Cochrane Collaboration
Description:   Having to take antipsychotic drugs for long periods of time can cause repetitive movements - often of the face and mouth. These are disfiguring and do not necessarily cease once medication is reduced or changed. Vitamin E has been evaluated for treating...
Date:   Jul 2010
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:   Jun 2010
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:   Apr 2010
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:   Nov 2010
Title:   Narcolepsy and cataplexy - myDr.com.au
Publisher:   myDr
Description:   Find out about the symptoms and treatments for the sleep disorders narcolepsy and cataplexy.
Date:   Nov 2009
Title:   Miscellaneous treatments for neuroleptic-induced tardive dyskinesia
Publisher:   John Wiley and Sons, Ltd. for The Cochrane Collaboration
Description:   Tardive dyskinesia is a disfiguring and disabling disorder of voluntary control of movement, often caused by antipsychotic drugs. Several Cochrane reviews have summarised the effects of the many treatments used to manage these involuntary movements. Thi...
Date:   Oct 2009
Title:   Cerebral perfusion study
Publisher:   The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists (RANZCR)
Description:   Detailed information for consumers and carers about having a cerebral perfusion study of the brain (also known as a ceretec scan) - including what it is, how to prepare, how it is done, risks and benefits and after effects
Date:   Jul 2009

Results 1 to 20 displayed.     1  2  3