Brain Injury Terms and Definitions

Parkinson's disease
A progressive degeneration of nerve cells in the part of the brain that helps control muscle movement.

NCEH
National Center for Environmental Health

brain tumor
An abnormal growth of tissue in the brain

CBDRP
Centers for Birth Defects Research & Prevention

cerebral palsy
A disorder caused by injury to the cerebral area of the brain that occurs before or during birth or in the first few months after birth. Damage to the cerebrum may cause paralysis (palsy) in one or more parts of the body.

neural tube defect
A structure in early fetal life that develops into the brain, spinal cord, spinal nerves and spine.

trigeminal neuralgia
A painful condition caused by a disturbance in the function of the trigeminal nerve, which carries sensation from your face to your brain.

SADDAN
SADDAN (severe achondroplasia with developmental delay and acanthosis nigricans) is a rare inherited disorder of bone growth characterized by skeletal, brain, and skin abnormalities.

Crouzon syndrome
Many of the signs of Crouzon syndrome result from the early fusion of the skull bones during childhood. Abnormal growth of these bones leads to wide-set, bulging eyes due to shallow eye sockets; eyes that do not point in the same direction (strabismus); a beaked nose; and an underdeveloped upper jaw.

Alzheimer's disease
Severe form of dementia caused by significant deterioration of brain tissue.