Neurology is the study of disorders of the nervous system. A neurologist is a physician who diagnoses and treats nervous system disorders of the brain, spinal cord and nerves. This specialist deals with problems related to brain disease, disorders of the brain, spinal cord, and the nerves, and the blood vessels that provide circulation to these organs. A neurologist also treats specific diseases such as Bell’s palsy, cerebellar ataxia and meningitis.

Physicians in this specialty treat patients suffering from numerous diseases and illnesses, but some of the most common are stroke, Guillain-Barré syndrome, brain tumor, migraine, meningitis, seizure, Parkinson's disease, epilepsy, cerebral palsy, coma, multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's disease, cluster headache, ischemic stroke, encephalitis, encephalopathy, botulism, chorea, Lou Gehrig's disease, and ataxia.

Once properly diagnosed, practitioners can perform numerous procedures on patients including Electroconvulsive therapy and Electroencephalogram (EEG).

To diagnose patients with possible illnesses and diseases, specialists will often perform one of many tests including CAT Scan of the Brain, CT Scan of the Brain, MRI Scan of the Brain, MRI Scan of the Spine, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), Computed Axial Tomography (CT or CAT Scan), Myelogram, Spinal Tap, Lumbar Puncture (LP), Electromyography (EMG), Myelography, Positron Emission Tomography (PET Scan), Spinal Puncture, Nerve Conduction Velocity (NCV), Electroencephalography, Cerebral Angiogram, Electronystagmography (ENG), Ocular Pressures, CSF Collection, and Myogram.

Doctor density varies by specialty and location. Florida has 780 practicing neurologists. Broken out by city, neurology doctor density in Altamonte Springs is 2, in Apopka is 1, in Atlantis is 6, in Aventura is 6, in Belleair is 2, in Boca Raton is 22, in Bonita Springs is 4, in Boynton Beach is 3, in Bradenton is 12, in Brooksville is 5, in Cape Coral is 12, in Clearwater is 18, in Clermont is 1, in Cocoa is 3, in Coral Gables is 3, in Coral Springs is 13, in Daytona Beach is 4, in Deerfield Beach is 1, in Delray Beach is 15, in Deltona is 2, in Dundee is 1, in Dunedin is 3, in Edgewater is 1, in Fernandina Beach is 3, in Fort Lauderdale is 36, in Fort Myers is 21, in Fort Pierce is 6, in Fort Walton Beach is 8, in Gainesville is 43, in Hialeah is 10, in Hollywood is 20, in Homestead is 1, in Inverness is 1, in Jacksonville is 67, in Jacksonville Beach is 7, in Jupiter is 6, in Key West is 4, in Kissimmee is 6, in Lake City is 4, in Lake Worth is 5, in Lakeland is 12, in Largo is 4, in Lauderdale Lakes is 1, in Leesburg is 4, in Maitland is 5, in Margate is 2, in Melbourne is 22, in Miami is 98, in Miami Beach is 12, in Milton is 1, in Naples is 24, in New Port Richey is 7, in New Smyrna Beach is 2, in North Miami Beach is 4, in Oakland Park is 1, in Ocala is 12, in Ocoee is 1, in Okeechobee is 3, in Orange City is 3, in Orange Park is 4, in Orlando is 22, in Ormond Beach is 5, in Palatka is 1, in Palm Bay is 4, in Palm Beach Gardens is 9, in Palm Coast is 2, in Panama City is 3, in Pembroke Pines is 14, in Pensacola is 15, in Pinellas Park is 5, in Plant City is 2, in Plantation is 9, in Pompano Beach is 17, in Port Orange is 5, in Port Richey is 4, in Punta Gorda is 3, in Riviera Beach is 2, in Rockledge is 4, in Safety Harbor is 3, in Sanford is 5, in Sarasota is 21, in Sebastian is 3, in Sebring is 3, in South Daytona is 1, in South Miami is 10, in Stuart is 7, in Sunrise is 11, in Tallahassee is 9, in Tamarac is 4, in Tampa is 63, in Tarpon Springs is 1, in Temple Terrace is 1, in Titusville is 4, in Venice is 8, in Vero Beach is 8, in West Palm Beach is 16, in Weston is 16, in Winter Haven is 8, in Winter Park is 9, and in Zephyrhills is 3.

Florida’s warm and humid subtropical climate makes it a winter destination for many. Population in 2000 was 15,982,378, according to census statistics. Tallahassee, located in the north panhandle area, is the state capital. Tourism is a major industry in Florida, with Cape Canaveral, Disney World, the Everglades National Park, Universal Studios, the Atlantic coast and the Gulf coast all destinations for visitors and residents. Year-round outdoor activities include camping, golf, scuba diving, snorkeling, fishing and boating.

According to 2005 Census estimates, Florida has a population of 17,789,864. Of this population, 3,975,071 are under the age of 18 and 2,978,335 are at or above the age of 65.