Neurodegenerative Diseases

Neurodegenerative diseases are a group of rare conditions that involve the loss of neurological functions, such as walking or other movements, because of structural abnormalities in the central nervous system. These disorders can be genetic or nongenetic. The causes of many of these conditions are unknown, but may include factors such as:

Metabolic
Viral
Immunopathic
Environmental
Epileptogenic

More frequently occurring neurodegenerative diseases include:

Tuberous sclerosis with degeneration
West disease (idiopathic degenerative encephalopathy associated with infantile spasms)
Werdnig-Hoffmann disease
Hereditary spastic paraplegia
Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis
Neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis

Treatments include addressing symptoms. Other treatments depend on the specifics of the condition. For example, if the condition is metabolic in nature, nutritional treatments may help.