Neurologic Manifestations of Nutritional Disorders

Maintenance of medical and neurologic health requires adequate ingestion, absorption, and storage of vitamins and minerals. Nutritional deficiency disorders are prevalent worldwide and result primarily from malnourishment, chronic alcoholism, malabsorption, bariatric surgery, eating disorders, and chronic diseases. The neurologic complications of nutritional deficiencies are often severe, and potentially reversible. Recognition of characteristic signs and symptoms of these disorders requires a careful history and examination, as radiologic and other diagnostic testing may often be normal or only minimally abnormal, at least initially. Early treatment can halt progression or potentially reverse associated neurologic manifestations.