National Institutes of Health
- The primary NIH organization for research on Degenerative Nerve Diseases is the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
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National Institutes of Health
Degenerative Nerve Diseases
Also called: Neurodegenerative diseases
Degenerative nerve diseases cause worsening of many of your body's activities, including balance, movement, talking, breathing and heart function. Many of these diseases are genetic, which means they run in families or you have a genetic mutation. Certain medical conditions such as alcoholism, a tumor or a stroke can cause other types. Toxins, chemicals or viruses might cause still other types.
Examples of degenerative nerve diseases include
- Alzheimer's disease
- Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
- Friedreich's ataxia
- Huntington's disease
- Lewy body disease
- Parkinson's disease
- Spinal muscular atrophy
Degenerative nerve diseases can be serious or life-threatening. It depends on their type. Most of them have no cure. The goal of treatment is usually to improve symptoms, relieve pain and increase mobility.
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Motor Neuron Diseases(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke)
- Short Summary
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Motor Neuron Diseases
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Learn More
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Multimedia & Cool Tools
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The bottom row in the table of contents box contains the following groups:
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Reference Shelf
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For You
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Overviews
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Motor Neuron Diseases(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke)
- Also available in Spanish
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Motor Neuron Diseases
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Diagnosis/Symptoms
- Learn about an EMG(American Association of Neuromuscular & Electrodiagnostic Medicine)
- Specialized Nerve Tests: EMG, NCV and SSEP(North American Spine Society)
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Specific Conditions
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Alpers' Disease(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke)
- Short Summary
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Batten Disease(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke)
- Short Summary
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Batten Disease(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke)
- Also available in Spanish
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Cerebro-Oculo-Facio-Skeletal Syndrome(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke)
- Short Summary
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Corticobasal Degeneration(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke)
- Short Summary
- Corticobasal Degeneration(We Move)
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Gerstmann-Straussler-Scheinker Disease(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke)
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Kuru(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke)
- Short Summary
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Leigh's Disease(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke)
- Short Summary
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Monomelic Amyotrophy(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke)
- Short Summary
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Multiple System Atrophy(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke)
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Multiple System Atrophy(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke)
- Short Summary
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Multiple System Atrophy with Orthostatic Hypotension (Shy-Drager Syndrome)(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke)
- Short Summary
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Neurodegeneration with Brain Iron Accumulation(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke)
- Short Summary
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Opsoclonus Myoclonus(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke)
- Short Summary
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Prion Diseases(National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases)
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Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke)
- Short Summary
- Also available in Spanish
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Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies (Prion Diseases)(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke)
- Short Summary
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Alpers' Disease
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Videos
- Nerve conduction - Encyclopedia
- Also available in Spanish
- Return to top
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Anatomy/Physiology
- Atlas of Human Body: Nervous System -- Basic(American Medical Association)
- Atlas of Human Body: The Nervous System -- Groups of Nerves(American Medical Association)
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Clinical Trials
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Ataxia(National Institutes of Health)
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Neurodegenerative Diseases(National Institutes of Health)
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Prion Diseases(National Institutes of Health)
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Ataxia
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Genetics
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Genetics Home Reference: Alpers-Huttenlocher syndrome(National Library of Medicine)
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Genetics Home Reference: Andermann syndrome(National Library of Medicine)
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Genetics Home Reference: Arts syndrome(National Library of Medicine)
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Genetics Home Reference: Ataxia neuropathy spectrum(National Library of Medicine)
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Genetics Home Reference: Autosomal recessive spastic ataxia of Charlevoix-Saguenay(National Library of Medicine)
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Genetics Home Reference: Brown-Vialetto-Van Laere syndrome(National Library of Medicine)
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Genetics Home Reference: Congenital insensitivity to pain with anhidrosis(National Library of Medicine)
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Genetics Home Reference: Familial encephalopathy with neuroserpin inclusion bodies(National Library of Medicine)
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Genetics Home Reference: GM2-gangliosidosis, AB variant(National Library of Medicine)
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Genetics Home Reference: Hereditary sensory and autonomic neuropathy type II(National Library of Medicine)
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Genetics Home Reference: Hereditary sensory and autonomic neuropathy type V(National Library of Medicine)
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Genetics Home Reference: Infantile neuroaxonal dystrophy(National Library of Medicine)
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Genetics Home Reference: Infantile-onset ascending hereditary spastic paralysis(National Library of Medicine)
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Genetics Home Reference: Juvenile Batten disease(National Library of Medicine)
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Genetics Home Reference: Juvenile primary lateral sclerosis(National Library of Medicine)
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Genetics Home Reference: Marinesco-Sjögren syndrome(National Library of Medicine)
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Genetics Home Reference: Multiple system atrophy(National Library of Medicine)
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Genetics Home Reference: Neuromyelitis optica(National Library of Medicine)
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Genetics Home Reference: Pantothenate kinase-associated neurodegeneration(National Library of Medicine)
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Genetics Home Reference: Polycystic lipomembranous osteodysplasia with sclerosing leukoencephalopathy(National Library of Medicine)
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Genetics Home Reference: Progressive external ophthalmoplegia(National Library of Medicine)
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Genetics Home Reference: Sandhoff disease(National Library of Medicine)
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Genetics Home Reference: Alpers-Huttenlocher syndrome
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Journal Articles
References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
- Article: GBA-associated PD. Neurodegeneration, altered membrane metabolism, and lack of energy...
- Article: Stimulation of autophagy reduces neurodegeneration in a mouse model of...
- Article: The human tripeptide GHK-Cu in prevention of oxidative stress and...
- Degenerative Nerve Diseases -- see more articles
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Directories
- Find a Neurologist(American Academy of Neurology)
- Find a Neurosurgeon(Congress of Neurological Surgeons)
- Find a Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Physician(American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation)
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Organizations
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National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
- Also available in Spanish
- We Move
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National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
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Children
- EMG (Electromyography)(Nemours Foundation)
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Patient Handouts
- Multiple system atrophy
- Also available in Spanish
- Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy
- Also available in Spanish
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You may also be interested in these related encyclopedia pages:
MEDICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA
