Neurological disorders can greatly change how the spinal cord works and looks. This can lead to serious problems and make life harder for those affected.

Changes in the Spinal Cord

1. Shrinkage and Damage:

   • Certain diseases, like multiple sclerosis (MS) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), can harm the nerve cells in the spinal cord. For people with MS, around 70% of these nerve cells can be impacted, causing the spinal cord to shrink.
   • In ALS, research shows that the front part of the spinal cord loses about 30% of its nerve cell size. This leads to weak muscles and trouble moving.

2. Swelling:

   • Swelling is a common sign of many brain and spinal cord issues. In MS, the spinal cord can show signs of swelling in about 80% of cases. This makes it hard for nerves to send messages properly.

3. Structural Problems:

   • Other issues, like injuries to the spinal cord, can create scar tissue and fluid-filled sacs. This can make the spinal cord work even less effectively. About 294,000 people in the U.S. live with spinal cord injuries, highlighting how serious this problem can be.

Problems with Movement and Senses

1. Loss of Movement:

   • Diseases like ALS cause nerve cells responsible for movement to fade away at a pace of 2-5% every month. This seriously affects how well people can control their muscles and get around.

2. Loss of Feeling:

   • Diseases such as diabetic neuropathy can damage nerves, resulting in loss of feeling. About 60-70% of people with diabetes experience such nerve damage, which can deeply affect how they feel pain or temperature.

3. Automatic Body Functions:

   • Many neurological disorders can upset the automatic processes controlled by the spinal cord. For example, spinal cord injuries can lead to a condition called autonomic dysreflexia in 85% of affected individuals, which can cause very high blood pressure and other dangerous problems.

Conclusion

In summary, neurological disorders change both the look and the job of the spinal cord. This leads to many different problems for those affected. It’s important to understand these changes so we can create better treatments in the medical field.