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Brain Diseases and Disorders

Tuba Sevimoglu, Tugba Bal, Çağla Özdemir

University of Health Sciences, İstanbul, Türkiye

Üsküdar University, İstanbul, Türkiye

The brain coordinates critical physiological and mental processes by sending

signals throughout the central nervous system (CNS). Comprehending the

anatomy and physiology of the brain is essential to appreciating its intricate

growth and mastery over both voluntary and involuntary movements, sensory

perception, and emotional reactions. This chapter explores the complex func-

tioning, architecture, and wide range of neurological illnesses that can impact

the human brain. The degeneration of nerve cells and synaptic connections

is a hallmark of neurodegenerative illnesses, which include Alzheimer’s dis-

ease (AD), Parkinson’s disease (PD), Huntington’s disease (HD), Amyotrophic

Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), and Multiple Sclerosis (MS). These diseases cause se-

vere symptoms and present substantial obstacles to patient care. Analogously,

brain tumors—both primary and metastatic—present difficult diagnostic and

treatment challenges and frequently call for radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and

surgery. The wide range of brain cancers is typified by meningeal tumors,

brain lymphomas, and gliomas, each of which presents particular therapeu-

tic difficulties. Furthermore, neuropsychiatric conditions emphasize the com-

plex interaction between neurological and psychological events. Examples of

these conditions include schizophrenia (SCZ), bipolar disorder (BD), atten-

tion deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), major depressive disorder (MDD),

and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Neuropsychological rehabilitation em-

phasizes the intricate relationship between the brain and behavior and is es-

sential in the management of these disorders. This review offers significant

insights into the complex mechanisms of the brain and the wide range of

neurological conditions that affect the health and quality of life of humans.

DOI: 10.1201/9781003461906-1

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