Читать книгу Neurobiology For Dummies - Frank Amthor - Страница 40

Movement disorders can originate with brain damage that compromises the control of movement, or neurons that drive muscles, or the muscles themselves. Chapter 16 discusses some of the most common movement disorders. Cerebral palsy and epilepsy typically involve brain damage. Multiple sclerosis is caused by demyelination of axons of motor and other neurons. Myasthenia gravis is an autoimmune disease involving the cholinergic receptors on muscle cells.

Some well-known movement disorders, such as Parkinson’s and Huntington’s diseases, occur only later in life. Neither of these diseases is curable, but a number of treatments can partially alleviate the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. Accidents involving brain or spinal trauma still produce many cases of paralysis every year. Extensive research efforts using stem cells, neural growth factors, and electrical stimulation continue to be made for these problems.