Brain Injury Terms and Definitions

NBDPS
National Birth Defects Prevention Study

vascular dementia
A common form of dementia that results either from narrowing and blockage of the arteries that supply blood to the brain or by strokes that cause an interruption of blood flow within the brain.

Pfeiffer syndrome
Many of the characteristic facial features of Pfeiffer syndrome result from the premature fusion of the skull bones. The head is unable to grow normally, which leads to bulging and wide-set eyes, an underdeveloped upper jaw, and a beaked nose.

Orofacial Birth Defect
Choanal atresia, cleft lip, cleft palate

Ear Birth Defect
Anotia/microtia

aneurysm
The localized enlargement of a blood vessel, usually an artery, that forms a bulge or sac.

Canavan disease
Canavan disease is an inherited disorder of the central nervous system in which affected individuals cannot break down a compound called N-acetyl-L-aspartic acid (NAA). Canavan disease is one of a group of genetic disorders called the eukodystrophies.

NBDPN
National Birth Defects Prevention Network

Spina bifida
Is a condition that often has disabling consequences. With severe spina bifida, a person’s legs and feet are paralyzed, and there are problems with bowel and bladder control. Learning disabilities are common, and mental retardation sometimes occurs

Genitourinary Birth Defect
Renal agenesis (bilateral), hypospadias (2nd or 3rd degree)