When to Consider a Care Home for Those with Alzheimer’s?
A person with dementia will need more care and support as their condition progresses, and there may come a time when they will need to move into full-time or residential care. This could be because a care home may be able to meet the needs of the person better. Or, it could be because something changes that then makes it difficult for the person with dementia to stay living at home.
Modern Medicine – Issue 4 2024
Towards the Optimal Care of Parkinson’s Disease – A Guide for GPs
Parkinson’s disease is growing in prevalence and incidence and presents a major healthcare challenge as the population ages. It is no longer ‘just a movement disorder’, but a multisystem condition that requires the attentive and agile collaboration of primary care and neurology. The diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease is still predominantly clinical, and imaging and biomarkers are largely still a research tool. The role of primary care in identifying and helping to manage the many possible manifestations of Parkinson’s disease, especially in later life, is vital to timely and patient focused care.
Modern Medicine – Issue 2 2024
Finding Relief for Vertigo Symptoms in Ménière’s Disease
Ménière’s disease (MD) is an idiopathic disorder characterised by recurrent episodes of vertigo, unilateral sensorineural hearing loss, tinnitus and aural fullness. The development of endolymphatic hydrops – an increased fluid within the inner ear organ – is observed (or presumed) in all individuals with MD. Vertigo symptoms can be managed through a combination of dietary salt restriction, stress reduction and medical therapy (betahistine, diuretics, or both).
Modern Medicine – Issue 5 2021
Calming Essential Tremor with Deep Brain Stimulation
Essential tremor (ET) is the most common movement disorder.It is characterised by bilateral action tremor of the hands and forearms, the head, and, less commonly, the voice, in the absence of other neurological signs. High-frequency stimulation of the ventral intermediate nucleus (VIM) has been shown to be highly effective in the suppression of tremor.Stimulation provides tremor relief on the side contralateral to the stimulator, completely eliminating tremor in as many as 50% of patients.
Modern Medicine – Issue 5 2019
Sound as Part of Cognitive Development and Understanding Brainhearing – MM1602
A child’s normal cognitive development is driven by the ability of sensory functions to bring useful information to the brain. By researching the way sensory input affects cognitive development early in life, we are able to provide sound instrumentation that allows sound to be picked up as a dependable source of information for the developing child.
Modern Medicine – February 2016
Schizophrenia is at Least Partly a Inflammatory Response – MM1501
Schizophrenia (SZ) is a complex, heterogeneous disease characterised by psychosis, affecting approximately 1% of the population. Core negative symptoms of SZ include cognitive deficits, social avoidance and flat affect; positive symptoms include paranoia, hyperactivity and psychosis. Linkage analyses reflect a high impact of genetics on incidence of SZ, although environmental effects such as life events and prenatal and early development may contribute to the disease.
Modern Medicine – January 2015
Generalised Epilepsy Due to Function Abnormalities – MM1501
Primary generalised epilepsy, also called idiopathic generalised epilepsy (IGE), refers to an epilepsy syndrome of idiopathic or unknown cause, not attributed to a known underlying condition such as brain tumour, stroke or other neurological disorder. IGE is characterised by bilateral spike–wave epileptiform discharges on electroencephalography (EEG). There are a number of different IGE syndromes. Each syndrome has its own characteristic seizure type(s), typical age of onset, and specific EEG patterns.
Modern Medicine – January 2015
Syncope: Simple or Sinister? – MM1411
Syncope is a transient loss of consciousness that can have a benign or serious cause. It can also be the presenting feature of a surgical emergency, as described here.
Modern Medicine – November/December 2014
Mood Disorders in General Practice – MM1411
Mood disorders are commonly encountered in general practice. Some patients with mood disorder require referral but all will benefit from careful assessment and specific interventions in general practice.
Modern Medicine – November/December 2014
Practical Management of Multiple Sclerosis – MM1409
Patients with multiple sclerosis often require high levels of medical input from their GP and treating neurologist. GPs are often their first point of contact about symptoms or complications of their disease or its treatment.
Modern Medicine – September 2014
