12.1 Introduction to the Nervous System

Neurological disorders affect the body’s autonomic, peripheral, and central nervous system. These disorders may occur at different points in the lifespan of an individual and for a variety of reasons. The severity of neurological disorders also varies greatly, with some disorders being mild and self-limiting to other disorders that may be quite debilitating or even life-threatening. Some examples of neurological disorders are migraines, non-migraine headaches, multiple sclerosis, dementia such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, brain tumors, spinal cord injuries, stroke, and epilepsy. Clients with a neurological disorder may experience a wide range of signs and symptoms. Therefore, a thorough neurological assessment is vital to detect deficits or changes in baseline neurological functioning. Signs and symptoms of a neurological disorder include headaches, memory or sensation loss, muscle weakness, tremors, nausea/vomiting, loss of bowel and/or bladder control, seizures, impacted speech, aphasia (trouble speaking), dysphagia (swallowing difficulties), intractable pain, blindness, and paralysis, all of which may vary in severity from mild to complete loss (Sargsyan, 2020; Shahrokhi & Asuncion, 2023). The occurrence of neurological disorders may be related to factors including genetics, infections, trauma, autoimmune reactions, or degenerative processes.

The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) identified the overall incidence of noncommunicable neurological disorders across the Americas. Neurological disorders related to death and disability were recognized as a global public health challenge and are expected to continue increasing as the population ages. The United States is the highest ranked country from the region of the Americas for age-standardized death rates related to noncommunicable neurological disorders. Females were more affected (60%) than males (40%), but males had a slightly higher death rate compared to females (33.1 per 100,000 and 32.2 per 100,000, respectively) (PAHO, 2021). Nationally, treatment of neurological disorders is also recognized as a public health objective. The Healthy People 2030 objectives focus on various health conditions related to neurological disorders (i.e., dementia, stroke, sensory or communication disorders, and mental health disorders) (Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, 2021).