If one part of the nervous system fails to function properly, it can lead to a wide range of symptoms and impairments depending on which part is affected. The nervous system controls many body functions, so dysfunction can cause:
- Sensory symptoms: numbness, tingling, loss of sensation, hypersensitivity, pain, or abnormal sensations in the skin
- Motor symptoms: muscle weakness, twitching, paralysis, loss of coordination, difficulty walking, or abnormal movements like tremors
- Autonomic symptoms: problems with sweating, blood pressure regulation, bladder and bowel function, sexual dysfunction, and inability to sense chest pain
- Cognitive and mental symptoms: confusion, memory problems, difficulty concentrating, mood changes, anxiety, depression, or altered levels of consciousness
- Functional impact: impaired ability to perform daily tasks, loss of independence, difficulty with communication, and emotional distress
The severity can range from minor (like a limb "falling asleep") to life- threatening (such as coma after a stroke)
. When nerve communication breaks down, such as in stroke or neurodegenerative diseases, nerve cells can become hypersensitive and brain networks may reorganize in disorganized ways, requiring relearning of functions
. Nervous system injuries are often difficult to heal because neurons in the central nervous system typically do not regenerate, but the brain can sometimes reorganize functions through plasticity, especially in younger individuals
. Treatment focuses on managing symptoms, preventing further damage, rehabilitation, and sometimes surgery to relieve pressure or other complications
. In summary, failure of a part of the nervous system disrupts the complex communication needed for sensation, movement, cognition, and autonomic functions, leading to a variety of physical, sensory, and cognitive impairments that can significantly affect quality of life
