In recent years there has been an increase in the number of people who develop neurodegenerative diseases. These disorders occur when nerve cells in the brain or peripheral nervous system lose function over time and ultimately die. Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease are the two most common neurodegenerative disorders. Others include Huntington’s disease, multiple sclerosis (MS), and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.

Symptoms of neurodegenerative disease frequently include apathy, anxiety, insomnia, fatigue, rigid muscles, problems with balance, sexual dysfunction, changes in speech, tremors and difficulty with movements that used to come automatically like blinking. Researchers are uncertain what is causing the dramatic increase in these problems, but we do know that the risk increases with age. Factors like environmental pollution, poor diet and exposure to increasing levels of electromagnetic radiation may all be factors.

No one wants to lose their mind or their ability to control their body, so it’s important that people take early action to reduce the risk of neurological decline. In this issue of Sunshine Sharing we’ll discuss these disorders, their possible causes and what you can do to reduce your risk of getting them. We’ll also talk about what can be done to try to reverse the damage and help rebuild a healthy brain and nervous system. 

Strategies for Health by Steven Horne