In 2017, the diagnostic criteria for cognitive and behavioural impairment in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) with frontotemporal dementia (ALSFTD-1) have been modified (ALSFTD-2) with the inclusion of a novel category (ALS with combined cognitive and behavioural impairment, ALScbi) and with changes of operational criteria of the other categories (ALS with cognitive impairment (ALSci), ALS with behavioural impairment (ALSbi) and ALS with frontotemporal dementia (ALS-FTD)). We compared the two sets of criteria to assess the effect of the revised criteria on the cognitive classification of patients with ALS.. To read the full article, log in using your NHS OpenAthens details.
Although use of valproate medicines in female patients continues to slowly decline, there is wide variation in prescribing between Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs). Women continue to report instances when they have not received patient information with their dispensed valproate medicine. All healthcare professionals must continue to identify and review all female patients on valproate, including when it is used outside the licensed indications (off-label use) and provide them with the patient information materials every time they attend their appointments or receive their medicines (including the Patient Information Leaflet at dispensing).
Blood-brain barrier (BBB) disruption has long been recognised as an important early feature of multiple sclerosis (MS) pathology. Traditionally, this has been seen as a by-product of the myelin-specific immune response. Here, we consider whether vascular changes instead play a central role in disease pathogenesis, rather than representing a secondary effect of neuroinflammation or neurodegeneration. To read the full article, log in using your NHS OpenAthens details.
Blood-brain barrier (BBB) disruption has long been recognised as an important early feature of multiple sclerosis (MS) pathology. Traditionally, this has been seen as a by-product of the myelin-specific immune response. Here, we consider whether vascular changes instead play a central role in disease pathogenesis, rather than representing a secondary effect of neuroinflammation or neurodegeneration. To read the full article, log in using your NHS OpenAthens details.
Objectives: Describe novel methods for ascertaining verbal fluency in a large national sample of adults, examine demographic factors influencing performance, and compare scores to studies using in‐person assessment.
Methods/Design: Participants were from the REasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) study, a national, population‐based, longitudinal study of stroke in adults aged 45 years an older.. To read the full article, log in using your NHS Athens details. To access full-text: click “Log in/Register” (top right hand side). Click ‘Institutional Login’ then select 'OpenAthens Federation', then ‘NHS England’. Enter your Athens details to view the article.
Visual hallucinations (VHs) can occur in several clinical conditions, of which the dementias, broadly defined, and Parkinson's disease rank among the most common. There is limited research on the lived experience of hallucinations among affected individuals and therefore a lack of evidence‐based management strategies. This study used qualitative methods to explore the VH experience of individuals with dementia or Parkinson's disease and their informal caregivers.. To read the full article, log in using your MPFT NHS OpenAthens details. SSOTP (legacy account) - You can request a copy of this article by replying to this email. Please ensure you are clear which article you are requesting.
The research suggests that strobe lighting at festivals might increase the risk of seizures for people predisposed to photosensitive epilepsy.
For that reason it would be sensible for people who have photosensitive epilepsy to take precautions to avoid seizures by avoiding events with strobe lighting, being aware of early warning "aura" symptoms, and being ready to leave events if they start to feel unwell.
Psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (PNES) are involuntary paroxysmal events that are unaccompanied by epileptiform EEG discharges. We hypothesised that PNES are a disorder of distributed brain networks resulting from their functional disconnection.The disconnection may underlie a dissociation mechanism that weakens the influence of unconsciously presented traumatising information but exerts maladaptive effects leading to episodic failures of behavioural control manifested by psychogenic ‘seizures’. To read the full article, log in using your NHS OpenAthens details
To identify the barriers and facilitators to goal-setting during rehabilitation for stroke and other acquired brain injuries. To read the full article, log in using your NHS OpenAthens details
Editorial commentary. Is ALS simply a collection of single, unique rare diseases with a discrete monogenetic cause, or is it a diagnostic continuum with a complex contribution of thousands of genetic and environmental factors? This is one of the most fundamental questions that are still unanswered in ALS. . To read the full article, log in using your NHS OpenAthens details.
Unilateral visual neglect is characterised by lateralised spatial–attentional deficits, resulting in dramatic behavioural impairments.1 Neglect negatively impacts functional outcome and needs to be successfully detected in order to inform neglect-specific as well as general post-stroke rehabilitation goals and strategies. It is therefore critically important to evaluate current clinical methods for detecting and measuring the extent of this syndrome.. To read the full article, log in using your NHS OpenAthens details.
Patients with functional neurological symptoms are often suspected of feigning their symptoms. These suspicions have been reported not only in the doctors1 and nurses2 who treat them, but also in the general public who commonly infer that patients described as having functional symptoms are simply pretending to be sick.3 We found that limited education was an important determinant in who made this inference, and that even very simple additional explanation substantially reduced it. To read the full article, log in using your NHS OpenAthens details.
It's very hard to be sure of the exact level of risk that may be associated with any class or individual drug.
It's also worth considering that this study has looked at people prescribed anticholinergics in older age who were diagnosed with dementia at around 82 years. We cannot apply this data to give the risk for a younger adult taking one of these drugs.
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To investigate the feasibility of a full-scale randomised controlled trial of a picture booklet to improve quality of life for people with epilepsy and learning disabilities. Open Access Article
Neuropsychology (Oct 18, 2018). DOI:10.1037/neu0000498
Objective: Symptoms of anxiety, depression commonly co-occur with cognitive decline in patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD). The directionality of this association is unclear, however, in that poor cognitive performance may lead to increased symptoms of anxiety and depression or higher anxiety and depressive symptoms may lead to cognitive decline. The purpose of this study was to elucidate the directionality of the association between symptoms of anxiety and depression with cognitive performance in newly diagnosed patients with PD.. To read the full article, log in using your NHS OpenAthens details.
X linked Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMTX) is a hereditary neuropathy caused by mutations in GJB1 coding for connexin-32, a gap junction protein expressed in Schwann cells, but also found in oligodendrocytes. Four patients with CMTX developing central nervous system (CNS) demyelination compatible with multiple sclerosis (MS) have been individually published. We presently sought to systematically investigate the relationship between CMTX and MS.. To read the full article, log in using your NHS OpenAthens details.
Open access. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a rapidly progressive neurodegenerative disease of motor neurons with a median survival of 2 years. Familial ALS has a younger age of onset than apparently sporadic ALS. We sought to determine whether this younger age of onset is a result of ascertainment bias or has a genetic basis.