The Aging Nervous System

The brain and nervous system are your body’s central control centre. They have specialised cells to carry information to the brain and different body parts. These electrical signals help the body to move. It also allows the body to feel different sensations like pain, cold, hot etc. However, many types of conditions and disorders can interrupt the working of the nervous system by either weakening it or damaging it. These disorders include infection, trauma, stroke, arthritis, tumour, interrupted blood flow etc. As you age, your brain and nervous system go through natural changes. Your brain and spinal cord lose nerve cells and weight ( atrophy ). Nerve cells may began to pass messages more slowly than in the past. We also lose muscle mass and strength which is called sarcopenia. Slowing of thought, memory, and thinking is a normal part of aging. Some people have many changes in the nerves and brain tissue and some have few changes.

Some common symptoms of nervous system disorders :

1. Loss of muscle strength

2. Headache
   

3. Memory loss

4. Numbness or tingling sensation

5. Muscle rigidity

6. Back pain

7. Tremors or seizures

Different nervous system problems :

1. Infection: if you have a weak nervous system you may develop infections such as polio, meningitis, epidural abscess and encephalitis.
   

2. Functional disorders: epilepsy, headache, dizziness, and neuralgia.

3. Structural disorders: cervical spondylitis, Bell’s palsy, brain, spinal cord symptoms etc.

4. Vascular disorders: stroke, subdural haemorrhage, subarachnoid, and external haemorrhage.

5. Degeneration: multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s chorea, ALS, Alzheimer’s disease.

Reasons nervous system issues may develop :

1. Diseases : rheumatoid arthritis, cancer, diabetes etc.

2. Accidental injury : injuring the body’s nerves.

3. Aging

4. Stroke

5. Toxic procedures : drugs, chemotherapy, alcohol etc.

How to improve a weak nervous system :

1. Exercise daily.

2. Exposure to sunlight 10 minutes daily.

3. Walk barefoot on the ground.

4. Do meditation for some time daily.

5. Maintain a healthy diet.

Please note this post is only for informational purposes and is not medical advice. Please consult your doctor for professional advice.