Cataracts
Cataracts are cloudy patches in the lens of the eye that make sight blurry. They are very common as people get older and are treated with a short operation.
Health conditions
Brain, nerves and senses
Guides to conditions that affect your brain and nerves, and your sight and hearing.
Dementia
Dementia is a group of symptoms caused by damage to the brain, affecting memory, thinking and daily life. A diagnosis opens the door to treatment and support.
Epilepsy
Epilepsy is a condition that causes repeated seizures. Most people can control their seizures with medicine and live full lives.
Glaucoma
Glaucoma damages the nerve at the back of the eye. It often has no early symptoms, but finding and treating it early can stop sight loss.
Hearing loss
Hearing loss is very common, especially as we get older. Getting it checked early matters, and NHS hearing aids are free.
Macular degeneration
Age-related macular degeneration affects the middle of your sight. Wet AMD needs urgent treatment, and there is lots of help for living with sight loss.
Migraine
Migraine is much more than a bad headache. It is a common condition of the brain that can be disabling, but there are many treatments that can reduce attacks.
Multiple sclerosis
MS is a condition where the immune system attacks the brain and spinal cord. It affects people differently, and treatments can reduce relapses.
Parkinson's disease
Parkinson's is a condition where parts of the brain become damaged over time. It affects movement and many other things, and treatment can control symptoms.
Tinnitus
Tinnitus means hearing sounds that come from inside your body, such as ringing or buzzing. It is common and often gets better, and there are ways to cope.
About these conditions
These are neurological conditions, which affect the brain, spine and nerves, and conditions that affect your sight and hearing. They can affect movement, memory, speech, senses and mood. Many are long-term, and good support can make a real difference to independence.
Help that applies to many conditions
- Benefits are based on how a condition affects you, not on its name. If you need help with everyday tasks or getting around, try our PIP points self-check, or the Attendance Allowance check if you are over State Pension age.
- If you cannot work because of your health, read about New Style ESA and the Universal Credit health element.
- You may be protected at work. Under the Equality Act 2010, a condition that has a substantial, long-term effect on your daily life can count as a disability, which means your employer must consider reasonable adjustments.
- Help with health costs. Some conditions give you free prescriptions in England, and prescriptions are free for everyone in Wales. Try our NHS health costs check.
- Your GP can review your treatment, refer you to specialists and tell you about local support.