This article aims to give a brief overview of the epidemiology, diagnostic issues and treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS). The disease is common, especially in the UK. People are often diagnosed in their 20s and 30s but live for a median…

Alzheimer's disease affects an ever growing number of people, with almost half a million patients in the UK alone. Unfortunately approaches to treating Alzheimer's disease are limited and cholinesterase inhibitors are the most commonly used…

Evidence is growing for a distinct subtype of depression arising in later life, characterised by a distinct clinical presentation and an association with cognitive impairment. Awareness of late-onset depressive disorder as a separate entity…

Parkinson's Disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder after Alzheimer's Disease. Most of the earlier breakthroughs in treating the illness focused on the motor manifestations but in recent years, there has been an…

The Counterweight Project was launched in 2000 as the result of a national group of consultant physicians recognising the need to tackle obesity management in primary care. Counterweight is the only fully evaluated, evidence based primary…

Prostate cancer continues to be a major health issue. The treatment of patients with localised prostate cancer has developed over the last 15 years. Clinicians and patients need a clear understanding of the different treatment options…

We present here an interesting case of a woman who presented with features of stroke but later emerged to have metastatic spine disease as the cause of her symptoms. The learning point to take from this case report is to maintain a broadly…

Dysphagia, or swallowing difficulties, is a prevalent disorder associated with certain neurological, obstructive and muscular conditions; stroke is the most recognised neurological cause. Swallowing difficulties are known to adversely…

Neuropathic pain differs from inflammatory pain both in terms of its symptoms and its management. This article outlines these differences and highlights some neuropathic pain conditions found in older patients with reference to…

The use of fracture prediction tools in osteoporosis has improved the management of patients by empowering risk factors other than bone mineral density to be considered, thereby improving fracture prediction. The FRAX tool is the most…

The importance of exercise for older people is great. Exercise delays the onset of a variety of diseases, increases performance and quality of life, reduces dependency and prolongs life. There is a dose€“response relationship between the…

A number of new antidiabetic medications have been launched in recent years. However, these are more expensive than standard treatments until they come off patent. Doctors are under pressure to keep costs down and this is reflected in the…

There have been substantial changes in dementia research over the last 20 years. For example, we have gone from basic science to licensed treatments for Alzheimer's disease. But, more needs to be done if we are ever to get to the point of…

In March this year, the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence published a new guideline for the pharmacological management of neuropathic pain. This article outlines four reasons why both primary and secondary care doctors…

Diabetes is a leading cause of premature death in elderly populations, often indirectly due to microvascular and macrovascular complications. Treatment is aimed at improving glycaemic control, whilst simultaneously managing associated…