Peripheral Neuropathy

The Peripheral Neuropathy category includes research on the causes, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of nerve disease or damage within the peripheral nervous system—the large communications network that sends signals between the central nervous system (the brain and spinal cord) and all other parts of the body.

Peripheral neuropathy affects millions of people in the United States. It is a type of nerve damage that typically affects the feet and legs and sometimes affects the hands and arms. More than 100 types of peripheral neuropathy have been identified, each with its own symptoms and likely course of progression. Up to one-half of people with diabetes have peripheral neuropathy. Over time, high blood glucose and high levels of fats, such as triglycerides, in the blood from diabetes can damage nerves and the small blood vessels that nourish them, leading to peripheral neuropathy.