There are more than 600 known neurological disorders, but the most common are neurodegenerative diseases such as stroke and migraine, as well as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, ALS, and other motor neuron conditions that affect more than 7 million Americas.
In addition, around 20% to 30% of people with diabetes contend with diabetic neuropathy.
According to a major study in the journal Lancet Neurology, neurological conditions are the leading cause of ill health and disability worldwide.
But diagnosis can be tricky — and treatments are most effective when performed early in the development of symptoms.
Here are some potential indicators of neurological problems that you don't want to ignore:
• Muscle stiffness or tremors
• Persistent headaches or vision changes
• Numbness or tingling
• Lack of balance
• Slurred speech or cognitive changes, seizures
Protection from neurological diseases comes from a healthy sleep routine; chronic stress management; control of blood pressure and blood sugar; staying mentally active and socially connected; eating salmon, leafy greens (they contain folate), nuts and seeds (they fight inflammation), and 100% whole grains; and getting 150-300 minutes of moderate to vigorous exercise weekly.
Treatments are becoming more effective — but they’re still often hit or miss.
Therapeutic plasma exchange is being used to treat Guillain-Barre syndrome and myasthenia gravis, and in randomized, controlled clinical trials to reverse cognitive dysfunction early in the course of Alzheimer's disease and long COVID.
It's also being researched for a wide range of other neurological disorders. You can see the summary of studies at LifespanEdge.com.
For more insights into prevention and control of neurological disorders, check out my book "The Great Age Reboot."