Physical Damage: Physical damage can sever the connections between neurons within neuron networks and nerve tissue, which can possibly result in making speaking, walking, breathing, swallowing, and simply moving difficult. These damages can occur in accidents within our everyday lives, but most notably, they can easily occur on the battlefield where soldiers are losing limbs or injuring their spinal cords. Even though the nerve fibers are capable of growing again, the scar tissue that forms usually blocks their path (Northwestern University). The blood-clotting protein that was found to block the growth of the neurons in the CNS was fibrinogen (University of California - San Diego "Blood").  |
 Diseases: Motor neuron diseases (MND) are neurological disorders that destroy motor neurons. These diseases can damage the upper motor neurons located in the brain, causing their communication with the lower motor neurons in the brain stem and spinal cord to falter. Disruptions in the signals between the two groups of neurons can cause muscles to be stiff or to move involuntarily, such as twitching or jerking. In the worst case scenario, severe damage can cause paralysis. -Common MNDs include:
(United States National Institute of Health)
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