The nervous system is made up of the brain, spinal cord, and nerves. The brain and spinal cord are protected from injury by the surrounding bones of the skull and vertebral column (spine). Nerves leave the spinal cord and make their way through small outlet holes in the vertebral column to supply the muscles and organs.
Motor nerves bring impulses, or messages, from the brain and spinal cord to the body. Sensory nerves convey messages from the body to the spinal cord and brain. The motor and sensory nerves sometimes travel together for part of their journey through the body but usually divide when they enter the spinal cord and brain. The brain and spinal cord contain nerve cells that interconnect with each other and send messages to different parts of the nervous system. Unfortunately, nerves cannot repair themselves once they have been severely damaged. However, some can be lost without significant impairment of function. If many are damaged at the same time, there will usually be some permanent interference in the working of that part of the nervous system. If the blood supply to the brain and spinal cord is disrupted, there can be serious damage to the nervous system.
Older people are more prone to suffer from diseases of their nervous system because of the increased tendency to degenerative disorders and blood vessel disease. These ill nesses account for a large number of the older individuals who require institutionalization. For many people, incapacitating nervous system disease is their greatest fear. Much of the thrust of present research is directed to avoid, postpone, or prevent disorders of the nervous system. Steps taken to control atherosclerosis, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus (diet, exercise, smoking, and alcohol cessation) may decrease some of the risks for some kinds of neurological disease.
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