Most of the nerves in our body are covered with a protective layer called myelin, very much like the insulation on electric wires. It helps messages from our brain move quickly and smoothly through our body, the way electricity flows from a power source.

Demyelinating disorders are any conditions that damage myelin sheath that surrounds nerve fibers in your brain, the nerves leading to the eyes (optic nerves) and spinal cord. When this happens, scar tissue forms in its place. Brain signals can’t move across scar tissue as quickly, so your nerves don’t work as well as they should.

A loss of myelin can cause neurological deficits, such as vision changes, weakness, altered sensation, and behavioral or cognitive (thinking) problems.

Demyelination disorders are among the most frequent neurological conditions. Types of these disorders include multiple sclerosis, Guillain Barré syndrome, diabetic peripheral neuropathy, entrapment neuropathies, and others, all of which can result in serious physical incapacity and diminished quality of life.

In this short course, a group of clinicians and scientists with vast experience in neurosurgery examines various aspects of demyelination from clinical, diagnostic, and therapeutic points of view.

In this self-study course, you will learn about:

• Neuropsychiatric Symptoms in Demyelination Disorders
• Role of Physiotherapy and Practice of Judo as an Alternative Method of Treatment in Multiple Sclerosis
• Schwann Cell Plasticity in Peripheral Nerve Regeneration after Injury
• Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy
• Upper Extremity Entrapment Neuropathy
• Pericytes of the Brain in Demyelinating Conditions
• and more…

This study material will a useful resource for medical practitioners of neurosurgery and general medicine.

This course – based on the book ‘Demyelination Disorders’ – comes with the courtesy of IntechOpen and is produced here under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License (CC BY 3.0) for the benefit of healthcare professionals.

Academic Editor

Stavros J. Baloyannis
Aristotle University of Thessaloniki

Disclaimer : The content in this course is educational in nature and intended solely as general health information. It is not a recommendation for treatment or medical advice. It is not a substitute for advice from a health care provider. If you  as a patient are experiencing a medical emergency, contact your health care provider or an emergency room.