{"title":"Frailty in stroke.","authors":"Fariha Naeem, Terry Quinn","doi":"10.1136/pn-2023-003833","DOIUrl":"10.1136/pn-2023-003833","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Stroke is predominantly a condition of older age. So, it seems sensible that specialists working in stroke services should understand the primary clinical syndrome of ageing-frailty. Recent studies have highlighted the prevalence of frailty in stroke and its associated poor outcomes, yet frailty does not feature prominently in stroke research, practice or policy. Frailty-informed stroke care may differ from the interventional management that dominates contemporary practice. However, this is not therapeutic nihilism. A person-centred approach ensures that every care decision is appropriate and based on a shared understanding of the person's goals and likely prognosis. We present a primer on frailty in stroke, describing definition(s), epidemiology and prognostic implications. We discuss the challenges surrounding assessment and management of frailty in stroke units and offer practical guidance suitable for the stroke clinician.</p>","PeriodicalId":39343,"journal":{"name":"PRACTICAL NEUROLOGY","volume":" ","pages":"448-455"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2024-11-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141077081","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Cognitive screening instruments: reasons to be cheerful.","authors":"Timothy David Griffiths","doi":"10.1136/pn-2024-004389","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1136/pn-2024-004389","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":39343,"journal":{"name":"PRACTICAL NEUROLOGY","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2024-11-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142630222","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Cognitive screening instruments: time for retirement.","authors":"Andrew J Larner","doi":"10.1136/pn-2024-004371","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1136/pn-2024-004371","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Cognitive screening instruments are used daily in clinics devoted to the assessment of cognitive disorders and also in general neurology clinics where patients with complaints of memory disorder may be encountered. However, these instruments have significant theoretical and practical shortcomings that are generally overlooked or ignored. In pursuit of biological rather than nosological diagnosis, and in light of these shortcomings, I recommend that cognitive screening instruments should now be abandoned.</p>","PeriodicalId":39343,"journal":{"name":"PRACTICAL NEUROLOGY","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2024-11-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142630225","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Waqar Rashid, Olga Ciccarelli, Siobhan M Leary, Tarunya Arun, Anisha Doshi, Nikos Evangelou, Helen L Ford, Jeremy Hobart, Saiju Jacob, Paolo Antonio Muraro, Katy Murray, Jacqueline Palace, Ruth Dobson
{"title":"Using disease-modifying treatments in multiple sclerosis: Association of British Neurologists (ABN) 2024 guidance.","authors":"Waqar Rashid, Olga Ciccarelli, Siobhan M Leary, Tarunya Arun, Anisha Doshi, Nikos Evangelou, Helen L Ford, Jeremy Hobart, Saiju Jacob, Paolo Antonio Muraro, Katy Murray, Jacqueline Palace, Ruth Dobson","doi":"10.1136/pn-2024-004228","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1136/pn-2024-004228","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The Association of British Neurologists last published guidelines on disease-modifying treatment (DMT) in multiple sclerosis (MS) in 2015. Since then, additional DMTs have been licensed and approved for prescribing within the National Health Service for relapsing-remitting MS, early primary progressive MS and active secondary progressive MS. This updated guidance provides a consensus-based approach to using DMTs. We provide recommendations for eligibility, starting, monitoring, switching and stopping of DMTs; pregnancy; equitable access to DMT; autologous haemopoietic stem-cell transplantation; and use of generics. We highlight best practice where it exists and discuss future priorities.</p>","PeriodicalId":39343,"journal":{"name":"PRACTICAL NEUROLOGY","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2024-11-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142630151","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Prolonged disorder of consciousness: giving a second opinion on the best interests of a person.","authors":"Derick T Wade","doi":"10.1136/pn-2024-004273","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1136/pn-2024-004273","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Patients with a prolonged disorder of consciousness have a neurological disorder. Few neurologists undertake assessment and management after the acute phase of the person's illness, even though some of their patients with progressive neurological disorders become persistently unconscious. Their clinical evaluation and deciding on their best interests require full use of a neurologist's expertise, which is intellectually, emotionally and clinically challenging. I will cover essential aspects of giving such an expert second opinion based on at least 200 cases where I have done so (and over 500 patients seen clinically).</p>","PeriodicalId":39343,"journal":{"name":"PRACTICAL NEUROLOGY","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2024-11-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142630237","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Aida Suárez-González, Nathalie Bier, Hélène Sauvageau, Victoria S Pelak, Samrah Ahmed
{"title":"Cognitive rehabilitation in posterior cortical atrophy.","authors":"Aida Suárez-González, Nathalie Bier, Hélène Sauvageau, Victoria S Pelak, Samrah Ahmed","doi":"10.1136/pn-2024-004259","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1136/pn-2024-004259","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Posterior cortical atrophy is an uncommon type of dementia often caused by Alzheimer's disease and characterised by progressive loss of visuospatial and perceptual abilities. Although there is no curative treatment, patients may benefit from a range of symptom-based techniques and strategies to address visuospatial deficits and apraxia, and to reduce disability. Specific techniques based on visual and tactile cues, adapted and assistive equipment, environmental modifications and skill training may help people with posterior cortical atrophy continue to carry on activities that are important to them. We share vignettes from patients treated in our clinics to illustrate the practical delivery and potential impact of these therapies.</p>","PeriodicalId":39343,"journal":{"name":"PRACTICAL NEUROLOGY","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2024-11-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142630220","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"What is rehabilitation?","authors":"Siobhan M Leary, Valerie L Stevenson","doi":"10.1136/pn-2024-004384","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1136/pn-2024-004384","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":39343,"journal":{"name":"PRACTICAL NEUROLOGY","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2024-11-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142630174","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}