Neurological Disorder - Classification

Classification

Neurological disorders can be categorized according to the primary location affected, the primary type of dysfunction involved, or the primary type of cause. The broadest division is between central nervous system (CNS) disorders and peripheral nervous system (PNS) disorders. The Merck Manual lists brain, spinal cord and nerve disorders in the following overlapping categories:

• Brain:
  • Brain damage according to cerebral lobe (see also 'lower' brain areas such as basal ganglia, cerebellum, brainstem):
    • Frontal lobe damage
    • Parietal lobe damage
    • Temporal lobe damage
    • Occipital lobe damage
  • Brain dysfunction according to type:
    • Aphasia (language)
    • Dysarthria (speech)
    • Apraxia (patterns or sequences of movements)
    • Agnosia (identifying things/people)
    • Amnesia (memory)
• Spinal cord disorders (see spinal pathology, injury, inflammation)
• Peripheral nervous system disorders
• Cranial nerve disorders
• Autonomic nervous system disorders
• Seizure disorders such as epilepsy
• Movement disorders such as Parkinson's disease
• Sleep disorders
• Headaches (including migraine)
• Lower back and neck pain (see Back pain)
• Other pain (see Neuropathic pain)
• Delirium and dementia such as Alzheimer's disease
• Dizziness and vertigo
• Stupor and coma
• Head injury
• Stroke (CVA, cerebrovascular attack)
• Tumors of the nervous system (e.g. cancer)
• Multiple sclerosis (MS) and other demyelinating diseases
• Infections of the brain or spinal cord (including meningitis)
• Prion diseases (a type of infectious agent)
• Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) (a chronic pain condition.)

Neurological disorders in non-human animals are treated by veterinarians.