Neurology

The SPECAL (Specialised Early Care for Alzheimer's) method aims to give patients with dementia a feeling of being in control and being able to make decisions which are carried out. It incorporates a number of core tools and best practice…

Many patients with dementia will in the later stages develop distressing behavioural symptoms. Antipsychotics are commonly used to treat this; however, as a class have been associated with serious adverse events in this vulnerable…

Migraine is a common complaint in all age groups, but the diagnosis and treatment in an older population require special consideration.

Transient global amnesia is widely regarded as one of the most remarkable neurological conditions in terms of its history, symptoms and signs. It presents classically with a sudden onset of severe anterograde amnesia. We describe here the…

Chronic pain is a frequent health problem in the elderly and is not part of the normal ageing process. The prevalence levels range between 45% and 80% in line with an age-related increase in patient comorbidity.

Movement disorders are encountered in all areas of medical practice and are generally associated with disorders of the basal ganglia. Tey can be broadly classifed into conditions with increased or paucity of movement, the former comprising…

Autoimmune limbic encephalitis is a rare but reversible cause of confusion or dementia that ofen evades diagnosis, leading to long-term neurological sequelae. It is becoming increasingly recognised and certain clinical features can be used…

Peripheral neuropathy is common in older people. Although the ageing process itself may play a part, there are multiple other causes.

Epilepsy is more common in older people, but diagnosis can be delayed by atypical presentation and non-specific symptoms. Mood problems such as depression and anxiety are also common.

Dementia is a devastating illness that leads to a progressive decline in a person's cognition and functioning. Patients frequently experience a wide array of behavioural and psychological symptoms, including agitation and aggression. These…

Reminiscence is the name given to the process of accessing long-term memory and recalling past events, stories and experiences. It is an increasingly popular way of engaging older people with short-term memory problems.

Restless legs syndrome (RLS) refers to a symptom complex of spontaneous, continuous lower limb movements that may be associated with paraesthesias.

When a patient with Alzheimer's disease displays sexually inappropriate behaviour, this often upsets the equilibrium of patient care and needs careful management.

Primary progressive aphasia is a more rare and underdiagnosed condition often mistaken for frontotemporal dementia or Pick's disease. This article will help clinicians differentiate it from Alzheimer's disease and other causes of dementia.

Problems with feeding and malnutrition are common in dementia. The consequences are often serious and worsen with disease progression.