Nervous System
What is the Nervous System?
The nervous system is a system within an animal which relays messages to and from the brain and spinal cord, as well as coordinate both the voluntary movements and involuntary automated responses.
The nervous system is a system within an animal which relays messages to and from the brain and spinal cord, as well as coordinate both the voluntary movements and involuntary automated responses.
By far, the system most affected by Alexander Disease is the patient’s nervous system (especially the Central Nervous System). Alexander Disease directly impacts upon the nervous system negatively, and effectively renders the patient's nervous system highly incapable or even useless in more severe situations. Of the methods that Alexander Disease impacts upon the nervous system, the deterioration of the myelin characterizes Alexander Disease and therefore is one of the most dominant effects of Alexander Disease.
Deterioration of the myelin
A brain of a patient suffering from Alexander Disease after autopsyThe myelin speeds up the nerve signal transmission by covering the nerve fibers (long, flexible fibers which are used for electric impulse transmission by the nerve cells) with interruptions by the nodes every certain interval. The nerve signals or electric impulses ‘jump’ from node to node which drastically speeds up the rate of transmission. Therefore, the loss of myelin results in a slower rate of transmission as now, the impulses must travel along the entirety of the nerve fibers.
Although the extents may vary, the deterioration of the myelin characterizes Alexander Disease. The myelin is imperative for fast nerve signal transmissions, and thus deteriorating myelin results in a highly delayed response from our nervous system (the Central Nervous System), or the interruption of signals resulting in no response at all. This in turn affects the nervous system in such ways including sensory impairments, difficulty in movement, difficulties in bodily functions, and difficulties with coordination. (9)
Although the extents may vary, the deterioration of the myelin characterizes Alexander Disease. The myelin is imperative for fast nerve signal transmissions, and thus deteriorating myelin results in a highly delayed response from our nervous system (the Central Nervous System), or the interruption of signals resulting in no response at all. This in turn affects the nervous system in such ways including sensory impairments, difficulty in movement, difficulties in bodily functions, and difficulties with coordination. (9)