Debilitating diseases come in many shapes and forms – from those that attack the muscles in our body and affect our physical abilities to those that affect our brain function and impair our thought processes.

People with debilitating diseases face a number of challenges that take an extensive toll on their health and finances. A person’s life can be completely changed in just a few short months as the disease progresses.

Here’s a list of debilitating diseases that significantly change the lives of millions of people:

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)

RA is an autoimmune disease that causes chronic inflammation in joints and organs throughout the body Schizophrenia

This brain disease is a complex mental disorder that makes it difficult for those diagnosed with it to differentiate between reality and imagined experiences, behave normally in social situations, and have normal emotional responses to everyday situations

Poliomyelitis

This disease, caused by the spread of the poliovirus, affects the central nervous system and can lead to partial or full paralysis.

Muscular Dystrophy (MD)

Muscular dystrophies are actually a group of related and inherited disorders that contribute to muscle loss and weakness over time.

Cerebral Palsy

There are several different types of cerebral palsy which affect the functions of the brain and nervous system. The cause for this disease is abnormalities or injuries to the brain during fetal development and also can occur up to the age of two years, when brains are still developing.

Chronic Obstructive Pulminary Disease (COPD)

COPDCOPD is a condition which makes it increasingly difficult to breathe due to permanent damage of the lungs and constricting airways, and is often a result of smoking

Cystic Fibrosis

The cause of this disease stems from a defective gene that causes the creation of thick mucus in the lungs and pancreas, leading to life-threatening breathing problems, lung infections and digestive problems.

Scleroderma

This connective tissue disorder and autoimmune disease causes changes in the skin, blood vessels, internal organs and muscles, and can occur solely on the skin level or internally throughout the entire body.

Multiple Sclerosis (MS)

MS is an autoimmune disease that affects the central nervous system, and is more common in women than in men.

Parkinson’s disease

This brain disorder leads to bodily tremors and difficulties with movement or controlling functions.

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) – Lou Gherig’s Disease

ALS affects the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord that control voluntary muscle movement, though the core cause is unknown and no cure exists

Alzheimer’s and Dementia

Alzheimer’s disease is one form of dementia that affects the way people think, behave and remember events in life.