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| WHY STUDY NEUROSCIENCE? |
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The surprising extent of some prevalent neurological and psychiatric disorders provides abundant motivation for neuroscientists.1. Neurological disorders- Fifty million Americans have permanent, neurological disabilities that limit
their daily activities.
- One million Americans suffer from genetic disorders resulting in brain and
nerve damage. More than 1,000 of these genetic disorders have been
identified, and many result in disability or death.
- More than 1 in 20 Americans have developmental disorders of the
nervous system, such as cerebral palsy, spina bifida, cognitive impairment,
and learning disorders.
- Four million Americans suffer from Alzheimer's Disease. Alzheimer's
disease is the fourth leading cause of death among adults, taking more than
100,000 lives each year. Fourteen million Americans will have Alzheimer's
disease by the middle of this century unless a cure is found.
- Four million incidences of stroke are reported each year. One third of stroke patients
die and another third are permanently disabled.
- Over 1 million Americans suffer from Parkinson's disease.
- Four million Americans have some form of macular degeneration, a disease
that destroys the center of the retina, resulting in loss of vision.
- Two million people suffer from nerve and muscle disorders, such as Lou
Gehrig's disease and nerve damage associated with diabetes.
- More than 250,000 Americans have spinal cord injuries.
- Thirty thousand Americans are afflicted with Huntington's disease and
another 150,000 are at risk.
2. Psychiatric disorders- One in three Americans will experience some form of mental disorder at
some point in their lives, and more people are hospitalized with
neuropsychiatric disorders than any other disease group.
- Eighteen million Americans suffer from depression. Disability from
depression exceeds that of diabetes, hypertension, gastrointestinal, and lung
diseases.
- Nine million children and adolescents in the U.S. are affected by mental,
behavioral, or developmental disorders.
- Three million Americans are affected by panic disorders during their
lifetimes.
- Three million Americans suffer from schizophrenia, the most chronic and
disabling of mental illnesses.
- Fourteen million adult Americans meet the diagnostic criteria for alcohol
abuse and alcoholism.
- Each year, addiction to tobacco and illicit drugs kills more than 400,000
people.
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