A degenerative disease is one that gradually compromising vital functions, such as Alzheimer's Disease and Diabetes.
Degenerative diseases act in an evolutionary way, that is, they worsen the patient's condition over time, and are irreversible. There are treatments to control the evolution of the disease, but this type of pathology still has no cure.
The word degenerative comes from degenerate, which in its etymology means losing essential qualities. In medicine, the adjective degenerative corresponds to the characteristic of cells and tissues that lose their function, becoming essentially basic and therefore no longer control the activity that should play a key role in the functioning of the body.
With this, many patients lose mobility, memory, muscles stop working and hinder the activity of internal organs, reasons that can lead to death.
But duly accompanied by a medical team and qualified health professionals, the patient with degenerative disease can enjoy a comfortable life with treatments that delay the development of disease.
To be diagnosed as having a degenerative disease, the symptoms must not indicate an inflammation, infection, or tumor.
Usually degenerative diseases are neurological or musculoskeletal. Examples of degenerative diseases are:
Degenerative diseases of the central nervous system
- Multiple sclerosis
- Alzheimer's disease
- Motor Neuron Disease (DNM)
- Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
- Parkinson's disease
- Huntington's Disease
- Wilson's Disease
Muscle Degenerative Diseases
- Progressive Muscular Dystrophy (PMD)
- Congenital Muscular Dystrophy (CMD)
Degenerative diseases of the cardiovascular system
- Hypertension
- Arteriosclerosis
Degenerative diseases of the skeletal system (Bones)
- osteoarthritis
- osteoporosis
- Arthritis
Degenerative diseases of the endocrine system
- Diabetes
Degenerative diseases of the spine
- Degeneration of Invertebral Discs
Degenerative eye diseases
- Glaucoma