What is a neurological condition?

A neurological condition is any condition that affects the brain, spinal cord and/or nerves. Because these systems control your mind and body, neurological conditions can affect the way you think and feel and interact with the world. Neurological conditions can affect anyone at any age.

One in six people in the UK lives with a neurological condition, but this simply aren’t the services or workforce in place to support them. We are a coalition of over 90 organisations working together to improve services for the 1 in 6 people in the UK who live with a neurological condition and their families and loved ones.

Find out about the progress of our latest campaign.

What causes neurological conditions?

Neurological conditions can be caused by a variety of factors, including genes, the environment, bacterial or viral infections and traumatic injuries or accidents. It’s not always possible to tell what causes a neurological condition, although research is ongoing.

Different types of neurological condition

There are over 600 known neurological conditions and this number is increasing all the time as diagnosis improves. Doctors, researchers and clinicians sometimes find it helpful to group neurological conditions together in four main categories:

Sudden onset conditions like stroke, traumatic brain injury, spinal injury, meningitis or Guillain-Barre Syndrome

Intermittent conditions, like epilepsy, migraine or cavernoma

Progressive conditions, like Parkinson’s disease, dementia, motor neurone disease or ataxia

Stable with changing needs, like Tourette’s syndrome, narcolepsy, fibromyalgia, transverse myelitis and cerebral palsy.

We work together to ensure that the views and needs of people with all kinds of neurological conditions are heard by decision-makers.

I have a neurological condition. Am I alone?

No, you’re not alone! One in six people in the UK have a neurological condition. If you don’t have a neurological condition, you probably know someone who does.

In fact, data we’ve collected shows that the number of people with a neurological condition is growing all the time. This is because  more children with neurological conditions are surviving beyond birth and into adulthood, and also because the UK’s population is ageing and more people are being diagnosed with age-related neurological conditions.

Getting the right care and support for your neurological condition has never been more important.

Find out more about what we’re doing to make sure everyone with a neurological condition has access to high quality, joined up care at every stage of their life.

I’m looking for help with my neurological condition. Where can I find support?

If you’re looking for help and support for your neurological condition or for a loved one, please browse our directory of over 100 Alliance member organisations supporting people with different neurological conditions or contact the Brain & Spine Foundation helpline.