Genetic:

Some nervous system diseases are due to genetic mutations[1]. For example, Huntington's disease is an inherited disease characterized by progressive neurodegeneration[2]. Huntington's disease results from a mutation in either copy of the HTT gene, which results in an abnormally folded protein[3]. The accumulation of mutated proteins results in brain damage of the basal ganglia[3].

Congenital/developmental defect:

Developing babies can suffer from birth defects that affect the formation of the nervous system[4]. For example, Anencephaly (or spina bifida) causes abnormalities in the nervous system due to neural tube defects[4].

Cancer:

Specialized cells in the central nervous system, such as glial cells, may proliferate abnormally and form gliomas[5]. Glioblastoma is an aggressive form of glioma[6].

This figure illustrates how glioblastoma affects brain tissue.

Infection:

Pathogens like fungi, bacteria, and viruses can affect the nervous system[7]. For example, meningitis is a common infection of the central nervous system, where bacterial or viral infections cause an inflammation of the meninges[8].

Seizure disorder:

It is suspected that seizures occur because of synchronized brain activity[9]. Epilepsy, for example, is characterized by an abnormal electrical activity in the brain, which causes repeated seizures[10].

Vascular:

The brain is rich in blood vessels because it requires a lot of nutrients and oxygen[11]. A stroke may result from a blood clot or hemorrhage [12].

Degenerative: edit

A neurodegenerative disease is a disease that causes damage to neurons. Examples of neurodegenerative disease include Alzheimer's Disease[13], Parkinson's Disease[14], Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis[15]. For example, Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory neurodegenerative disease, where the body initiate an inflammatory reaction in the central nervous system, and causes damage to neurons[16][17]. Neurodegneration is different in each disease, for example, MS is a result of a degenerative process called demyelination[16]. On the other hand, Parkinson's Disease results from damage of neurons in the Substantia Nigra, which is important to initiate motor behavior[18].

 
This diagram shows the myelin sheath around axons of healthy neurons looks like, and the result of demyelination of neurons in Multiple Sclerosis.
  1. ^ Breedlove, S. Mark (2018). Behavioral Neuroscience. 198 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016, USA: Oxford University Press. p. 364. ISBN 9781605357430.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location (link)
  2. ^ Podvin, Sonia; Reardon, Holly T.; Yin, Katrina; Mosier, Charles; Hook, Vivian (March 2019). "Multiple clinical features of Huntington's disease correlate with mutant HTT gene CAG repeat lengths and neurodegeneration". Journal of Neurology. 266 (3): 551–564. doi:10.1007/s00415-018-8940-6. ISSN 0340-5354.
  3. ^ a b Breedlove, S. Mark (2018). Behavioral Neuroscience. 198 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016, USA: Oxford University Press. p. 365. ISBN 9781605357430.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location (link)
  4. ^ a b Johnson, Candice Y.; Honein, Margaret A.; Flanders, W. Dana; Howards, Penelope P.; Oakley, Godfrey P.; Rasmussen, Sonja A. (2012). "Pregnancy termination following prenatal diagnosis of anencephaly or spina bifida: A systematic review of the literature". Birth Defects Research Part A: Clinical and Molecular Teratology. 94 (11): 857–863. doi:10.1002/bdra.23086. ISSN 1542-0760.
  5. ^ Breedlove, S. Mark (2018). Behavioral Neuroscience. 198 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016, USA: Oxford University Press. p. 208. ISBN 9781605357430.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location (link)
  6. ^ Lim, Michael; Xia, Yuanxuan; Bettegowda, Chetan; Weller, Michael (July 2018). "Current state of immunotherapy for glioblastoma". Nature Reviews Clinical Oncology. 15 (7): 422–442. doi:10.1038/s41571-018-0003-5. ISSN 1759-4774.
  7. ^ Houlihan, Catherine F.; Bharucha, Tehmina; Breuer, Judith (June 2019). "Advances in molecular diagnostic testing for central nervous system infections". Current Opinion in Infectious Diseases. 32 (3): 244–250. doi:10.1097/QCO.0000000000000548. ISSN 0951-7375.
  8. ^ Breedlove, S. Mark (2018). Behavioral Neuroscience. 198 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016, USA: Oxford University Press. p. 49. ISBN 9781605357430.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location (link)
  9. ^ Breedlove, S. Mark (2018). Behavioral Neuroscience. 198 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016, USA: Oxford University Press. p. 89. ISBN 9781605357430.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location (link)
  10. ^ Breedlove, S. Mark (2018). Behavioral Neuroscience. 198 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016, USA: Oxford University Press. p. 88. ISBN 9781605357430.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location (link)
  11. ^ Breedloe, S. Mark (2018). Behavioral Neuroscience. 198 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016, USA: Oxford University Press. p. 50. ISBN 9781605357430.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location (link)
  12. ^ Alsharif, S. Mark (2018). Behavioral Neuroscience. 198 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016, USA: Oxford University Publisher. p. 51. ISBN 9781605357430.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location (link)
  13. ^ Hurtley, Stella M. (1998-11-06). "Neurodegeneration". Science. 282 (5391): 1071–1071. doi:10.1126/science.282.5391.1071. ISSN 0036-8075.
  14. ^ Breedlove, S. Mark (2018). Behavioral Neuroscience. 198 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016, USA: Oxford University Press. p. 361. ISBN 9781605357430.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location (link)
  15. ^ Breedlove, S. Mark (2018). Behavioral Neuroscience. 198 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016, USA: Oxford University Press. p. 350. ISBN 9781605357430.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location (link)
  16. ^ a b Shroff, Geeta (2018-02-12). "A review on stem cell therapy for multiple sclerosis: special focus on human embryonic stem cells". Stem Cells and Cloning : Advances and Applications. 11: 1–11. doi:10.2147/SCCAA.S135415. ISSN 1178-6957. PMC 5813951. PMID 29483778.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: unflagged free DOI (link)
  17. ^ Breedlove, S. Mark (2018). Behavioral Neuroscience. 198 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016, USA: Oxford University Press. p. 35. ISBN 9781605357430.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location (link)
  18. ^ Breedlove, S. Mark (2018). Behavioral Neuroscience. 198 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016, USA: Oxford University Press. p. 47. ISBN 9781605357430.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location (link)