By: Emily Millet And Olivia Hitt

Nerve damage is also called neuropathy it is when the nerves of your body die. It may affect the peripheral nerves or autonomic nerves. It can affect either one or multiple nerves at one time. There are three types of nerves in your body: autonomic nerves, sensory nerves, and motor nerves. The nervous system controls everything your body does and if the nerves begin to be damaged, you can’t replace them. That is the reason why nerve damage is so difficult to deal with.

WHATCAUSESNERVEDAMAGE?WHATCAUSESNERVEDAMAGE? Cancer: Cancerous masses can push up against nerves and crush them. Some cancers could also cause nutritional deficiency, and treatments for cancer such as radiation and chemotherapy can also cause nerve damage. Autoimmune diseases: There are quite a few autoimmune diseases that can cause nerve damage such as multiple sclerosis, Guillain Barre Syndrome, lupus, and inflammatory bowel disease. Traumas: Some of these traumas can include a pinched nerve in the neck, carpel tunnel syndrome, and injuries from being crushed. Diabetes: As much as 50% of all diabetics have nerve damage- This can worsen as the disease progresses. This is a serious problem and can affect all types of nerves. Infectious Disease: Some infectious diseases can cause nerve damage such as Lyme disease, Hepatitis C, HIV, and the herpes virus.

Diagnosis : –Nerve damage can be diagnosed through physical exam, ultrasound, or MRI. Treatment: - Some treatments could include injections of steroids and anesthesia such as lidocane into the affected area can provide temporary relief. Nerve and tendon surgery have helped other people. The best treatment is to discuss with your doctor what your options are and if they are surgically correctable or not.

Neurodegeneration is the breaking down of neurons within the human body. As the neurons begin to lose structure and function, this causes the nerve cells to die. (Also called apoptosis.) Many scientists say the cause behind Neurodegeneration is the death of nerve cells and also, misalignment of proteins within the brain.

Alzheimer's disease is not only the death of neurons, but the degeneration of other segments of the brain including the frontal lobe, parietal lobe, and the frontal cortex. It is the most common type of dementia. It is most often diagnosed in elderly people over the age of 65. This is a serious and devastating disease to have but with the right resources and early detection, you can slow its affects on a person. Progression through the three stages: Stage One: Mild- This stage is often overlooked at first, because it is associated with all of the common signs of aging and it can take quite a while for a caretaker to notice when all the while the person with this disease is having trouble making sense of everything around them. Stage Two: Moderate- In this stage, the disease begins to affect the areas of the brain that controls reasoning, speech and language, sight, and thought. Most people often experience difficulty performing tasks that were once second nature such as bathing and restroom habits. Stage Three: Severe- This is the most advanced and last stage of Alzheimer's. At this stage, brain and nerve damage is extensive. By this stage, most victims have trouble walking, recognizing familiar and family faces, they refuse to eat, and they typically have trouble completing activities necessary to daily living. At this stage, full- time care is typically a must.

Parkinson's disease affects the nervous system of the human body. It can limit a persons ability to control muscle movements. It is caused by a slow and gradual loss of certain cell in the brain which make chemical dopamine, a chemical needed to make you muscles function properly. As a result of this disease, some people have trouble walking and experience uncontrollable shaking of the arms, legs, and hands. Once the disease has progressed to the most serious step, the person must walk in a style called shuffling gait which is small steps and slow movement.

Although scientists are not sure what causes Parkinson's disease, they think genetics may be a factor and environmental toxins may also be a contributor to this terrible disease. As many as 1,000,000 people in the United States alone are diagnosed with Parkinson's disease each year. Parkinson's is more common in patients over the age of 60. Medical treatments can relieve the symptoms of Parkinson's disease while scientist continue to search for a cure.

Stage 1- Tremors begin on one side of the body. Stage 2- Tremors begin to occur on both side of the body. Stage 3- First signs in loss of balance occur, person is still independent. Stage 4- Person may begin to need help with daily activities, at this stage they are unable to live alone. Stage 5- The person is confined to a bed or wheelchair unless assisted.

Huntington’s disease is a incurable neurodegenerative disorder that controls the muscle within the body. This is caused by a mutation on the fourth chromosome and if a parents of a child possesses that trait for the disease, there is a 50% chance that the child will contract the disease. Huntington's disease creates a misfolded protein that affects the way nerves in the brain communicate with one another. This disease is not fatal, but if you fall victim to other illnesses such as cardiovascular disease,pneumonia or injury from a fall, you are given a life span of approximately 20 years from the date of diagnosis.

Just like these other neurodegenerative diseases, the later stages of these obstacles in life often require more care than earlier on because at this point the person is unable to care for themselves mentally or physically. The two ways to diagnose Huntington’s disease are to notice the symptoms and consult with your doctor, or be tested for the disease if your family has a history of it. Huntington’s disease is a dominant gene and people who have it in their family blood lines are usually eager to be tested to see if fate played in their favor.

Bibliography htmwww.sciencedaily.com/.../11/ htm k/research/neuro.htmhttp:// k/research/neuro.htm