Journal of neurology, neurosurgery, and psychiatry
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J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatr. · Jun 2015
ReviewThe use and misuse of short cognitive tests in the diagnosis of dementia.
Short cognitive tests are widely used in medicine to assess patients with memory problems but their role in the assessment of patients with cognitive problems is often misunderstood. They are a part of the examination of the patient and not tests for dementia or 'case-finding tools'. ⋯ Their use in clinical practice particularly in response to national directives aimed at increasing diagnosis rates in dementia needs a clear understanding of their role and limitations. A new classification of short cognitive tests is proposed with guidance on their use in clinical medicine.
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J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatr. · Jun 2015
ReviewThe expanding syndrome of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: a clinical and molecular odyssey.
Recent advances in understanding amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) have delivered new questions. Disappointingly, the initial enthusiasm for transgenic mouse models of the disease has not been followed by rapid advances in therapy or prevention. ⋯ Nonetheless, there is a common clinical core to ALS, as clear today as it was to Charcot and others. We stress the continuing relevance of clinical observations amid the increasing molecular complexity of ALS.