Chapter 11: Neurology

Cerebrovascular disorders receive substantial attention, with particular emphasis on acute ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke pathophysiology, risk factor identification including hypertension, atrial fibrillation, and diabetes, and time-sensitive interventions using thrombolytic medications within critical treatment windows. Transient ischemic attacks are distinguished as temporary neurological events managed through antiplatelet and anticoagulation strategies. The chapter systematically addresses seizure disorders by classifying seizures as generalized or focal presentations, explaining status epilepticus as a medical emergency, and detailing pharmacological management with agents such as lamotrigine, carbamazepine, and benzodiazepines. Multiple sclerosis is presented as an autoimmune demyelinating disease with characteristic sensory and motor symptoms managed through disease-modifying therapies and corticosteroids. Cognitive decline receives detailed examination through Alzheimer's disease, characterized by amyloid plaques and tau tangles and treated with cholinesterase inhibitors, alongside vascular dementia related to cerebrovascular events. Headache disorders are differentiated by clinical presentation, including tension-type, migraines with potential aura phases, and cluster headaches with associated autonomic phenomena, each requiring distinct therapeutic approaches. Movement disorders including Parkinson's disease, characterized by dopaminergic neuronal loss and treated with levodopa and dopamine agonists, alongside Huntington's disease and Tourette syndrome, are reviewed with emphasis on symptomatic management. The chapter concludes with examination of peripheral neuropathies and conditions such as Guillain-Barré syndrome, demonstrating the breadth of neurological conditions requiring clinical recognition and evidence-based management.