neurotoxicity
Meaning of neurotoxicity: Neurotoxicity refers to damage to nerve tissue caused by exposure to a toxic substance, whether a chemical, drug, or naturally occurring toxin.
Definition of neurotoxicity
Neurotoxicity refers to damage or dysfunction affecting the nervous system caused by exposure to a substance toxic to nerve tissue. The responsible substance can be an environmental toxin, such as certain heavy metals or industrial chemicals, a naturally occurring toxin from a plant, animal, or microorganism, or a medication, including certain chemotherapy drugs, where nerve damage occurs as an unintended side effect of treatment aimed at another target.
Neurotoxicity can affect the brain, spinal cord, or peripheral nerves, producing effects that range from numbness, tingling, and weakness to confusion, memory changes, or seizures, depending on which part of the nervous system is affected and how severely.
Some forms of neurotoxicity resolve once exposure to the responsible substance ends, while others cause lasting damage, a distinction that generally depends on the substance involved, the extent of exposure, and how early it is identified.
Used in a sentence
The patient was monitored for signs of neurotoxicity during treatment with the chemotherapy regimen.
Good to know
Neurotoxicity from a medication such as chemotherapy is generally distinguished from neurological symptoms caused by the underlying disease itself, since the two can produce similar symptoms but require different evaluation.
Word origin
Where “neurotoxicity” comes from
Formed from Greek neuron, meaning nerve, and toxikon, meaning poison, originally referring to poison applied to arrows.