Brain Conditions

Printer-friendly versionPrinter-friendly version

There are over 1,000 different types of brain disorders – neurological, developmental and psychiatric – affecting people at every age and stage of life. Some are linked to genetics, other more random. While neuroscience continues to make amazing discoveries, information about the cause and cure of most brain disorders remains a mystery.

The Global Burden of Disease (2002) reported that the impact of brain conditions was greater than that of cardiovascular disease and cancer combined. This is primarily due to the high levels of disability created by brain conditions, and the resulting demands on care givers to help meet the needs of their loved one(s).

The condition-specific information contained on this site addresses some of the more common conditions. The NHCC credits its’ member organizations and key resources including NeuroScience Canada and the Society for Neuroscience.

List of Conditions

ALS
ALS Society of Canada

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (also known as Lou Gehrig's disease) is a devastating neurodegenerative disease. Those living with the disease become...

Alzheimer's disease & related dementia
Alzheimer Society Canada

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive, degenerative disease of the brain, which causes thinking and memory to become seriously impaired. It is the most...

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
Centre for ADHD Awareness Canada
Tourette Syndrome Foundation of Canada

What is Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder?

Blindness
The Foundation Fighting Blindness

Since 1974, The Foundation Fighting Blindness, Canada’s largest registered charity for sight saving research, has contributed over $20 million...

Brain Injury
Brain Injury Association of Canada

Everyday we participate in activities that produce endless risks for sustaining a brain injury; events include a car accident while driving to the grocery...

Brain Tumours
Canadian Alliance of Brain Tumour Organizations

Although brain tumors are not always malignant — a condition that spreads and becomes potentially lethal — these growths always are serious...

Cerebral Palsy
Ontario Federation for Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral Palsy (CP) is a term used to describe a group of disorders affecting body movement and muscle co-ordination. The medical definition of cerebral...

Dystonia
Dystonia Medical Research Foundation Canada

Dystonia is a movement disorder that causes the muscles to contract and spasm involuntarily. The neurological mechanism that makes muscles relax when they...

Epilepsy
Canadian Epilepsy Alliance

Epilepsy is a neurological disorder – a physical condition that causes sudden bursts of hyperactivity in the brain. This hyperactivity produces...

Headache & Migraine
Headache Network Canada

There are two main types of headaches: primary headaches (tension, migraine or cluster) and secondary headaches (caused by another medical condition or...

Huntington's disease
Huntington Society of Canada

Huntington disease (HD) is an inherited brain disorder that causes cells in specific parts of the brain to die.

Huntington disease is a genetic...

Hydrocephalus
Spina Bifida & Hydrocephalus Association of Ontario

Hydrocephalus comes from the Greek word “hydro,” meaning water, and “cephalous,” meaning head. It is a neurological condition that...

Mood Disorders
Mood Disorders Society of Canada

Mental illness is a serious disturbance in thoughts, feelings and perceptions that is severe enough to affect day-to-day functioning. Some names for mental...

Multiple Sclerosis
Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada

Multiple sclerosis is a complex disease. While it is most often diagnosed in young adults, aged 15 to 40, we know that it affects children, some as young as...

Muscular Dystrophy
Muscular Dystrophy Canada

Muscular dystrophy is the name for a group of neuromuscular disorders that are characterized by progressive weakness and wasting of the voluntary muscles...

Parkinson’s disease
Parkinson Society Canada

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disease resulting from the death of brain cells that produce dopamine – a brain chemical that...

Physical Disabilities
March of Dimes Canada

Many brain conditions result in debilitating physical limitations, either due to development issues or some part of the brain or central nervous system...

Rett Syndrome
Ontario Rett Syndrome Association

Rett Syndrome (RS) is a unique developmental disorder, which begins to show its affects in infancy or early childhood. It is seen almost exclusively in...

Spina Bifida
Spina Bifida & Hydrocephalus Association of Ontario

Spina bifida is a neural tube birth defect (NTD) that occurs within the first four weeks of pregnancy. The spinal column fails to develop properly resulting...

Spinal Cord Injury
Ontario Neurotrauma Foundation

The spinal cord is the primary neurological pathway conducting messages from the brain to the body parts, spinal cord injuries are often disabling due to...

Stroke

Stroke is the leading cause of disability worldwide. Approximately 300,000 Canadians are living with the affects of a stroke.

Stroke
Heart & Stroke Foundation of Canada

Your heart is a muscle that gets energy from blood carrying oxygen and nutrients. Having a constant supply of blood keeps your heart working properly. Most...

Tourette Syndrome & related disorders
Tourette Syndrome Foundation of Canada
Centre for ADHD Awareness Canada

Tourette Syndrome (TS) is a neurological or "neurochemical" disorder characterized by tics -- involuntary, rapid, sudden movements or...




Drupal Site Development by Intrigue Development. Design by