Mount Sinai’s Abilities Research Center specializes in treating a range of neurological illnesses and injuries including stroke, spinal cord injury, brain injury, and neurodegenerative diseases. We partner with you to develop a rehabilitation plan that meet your situation, needs, and goals.

Spinal Cord Injury

The spinal cord contains the nerves that carry messages between your body and brain. Symptoms of spinal cord injuries vary, depending on the location and severity of the injury. Symptoms can include:

• Loss of bowel or bladder control
• Numbness
• Pain
• Paralysis
• Sensory changes
• Muscle stiffness and involuntary movements (spasticity)

Stroke

A stroke occurs when blood flow to part of the brain is interrupted, preventing oxygen and nutrients from reaching brain tissue. This leads to cell death and can cause lasting damage. The two main types of strokes are ischemic (caused by a blood clot) and hemorrhagic (caused by a burst blood vessel). You may have a variety of symptoms, depending on the stroke’s severity and the part of the brain it affects. Symptoms can include loss of balance or coordination; problems with walking; difficulty moving your arm or one side of your body; trouble speaking or swallowing; numbness or tingling; and weakness in the arm, leg, or face.

Neurodegenerative Diseases

These diseases damage your nervous system (brain, spinal cord, and nerves) over time. Often, you do not see the effects of these diseases until later in life. The most common types of neurodegenerative diseases are:

• Multiple sclerosis: This progressive neurological condition happens when you lose the protective coating of the nerves, called myelin, over time. Symptoms vary depending on the extent of myelin loss and the where the myelin is missing. You might experience numbness, weakness, trouble walking, and vision changes.
• Parkinson’s disease: This nervous system condition causes parts of the brain to deteriorate. You might experience slow movement, tremor and shakes, and balance problems. It can also affect your mental health and ability to think.

Traumatic Brain Injury

Traumatic brain injury occurs when a force outside the body injures the head, neck, or brain, changing the way the brain functions. Depending on the severity of the injury, you might experience anything from mild headaches to severe losses of consciousness or coma. Effects can be short- or long-term.

Brain Tumors

A brain tumor is an abnormal collection of cells in the brain tissue. There are more than 100 types of brain tumors, with varying symptoms, treatments, and outcomes. According to the National Brain Tumor Society, the most common types of primary brain tumors in adults are:

• Glioblastomas: These usually form in the brain, brainstem, or spinal cord. They are the most common type of brain tumor and occur more often in older adults and in men.
• Meningiomas: These cancerous (malignant) tumors grow slowly. They tend to form in the layer of tissue that protects the brain and spinal cord. Symptoms include headaches, weakness, and seizures.
• Tumors of the pituitary gland: Often noncancerous (benign), they appear in the pituitary gland, which is located at the base of the brain. This gland makes, stores, and releases hormones. The most common side effects of these tumors are vision loss and hormone imbalance.

Disorders of Consciousness

Consciousness is when you are awake and alert. Disorders of consciousness are when you are not conscious or not consistently conscious. These disorders usually occur after a serious brain injury. There are several types:

• Coma: This when you cannot arouse the person or make them open their eyes.
• Persistent vegetative state: When someone has periods of wakefulness but is unaware of themselves and their environment, we call it a persistent vegetative state.
• Minimally conscious state: This when the person has periodic but obvious awareness of themselves and the environment.