Brain Injury Terms and Definitions

Alexander disease
Alexander disease is considered one of the leukodystrophies, a group of disorders where the primary abnormality is the inability to maintain the fatty covering (myelin) that insulates nerve fibers in the brain. Alexander disease is a rare disorder of the nervous system that usually begins during infancy or early childhood.

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

Canavan disease
Canavan disease is an inherited disorder of the central nervous system in which affected individuals cannot break down a compound called N-acetyl-L-aspartic acid (NAA). Canavan disease is one of a group of genetic disorders called the eukodystrophies.

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

Pantothenate kinase-associated neurodegeneration
Pantothenate kinase-associated neurodegeneration (formerly called Hallervorden-Spatz syndrome) is a disorder of the nervous system. The condition is characterized by progressive difficulty with movement and speech

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.

NBDPS
National Birth Defects Prevention Study

BDPM
Birth Defects Monitoring Program

CBDMP
California Birth Defects Monitoring Program

Non-system-specific Birth Defect
Amniotic band sequence