Neurodegenerative disease management
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Neurodegener Dis Manag · Feb 2018
ReviewDemographics and clinical characteristics of primary lateral sclerosis: case series and a review of literature.
Primary lateral sclerosis (PLS) is a form of motor neuron disease involving only upper motor neurons. In some patients presenting as PLS, the disease progresses to involve lower motor neurons and thereby converting to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). However, pure forms of PLS do exist. Our aim was to study epidemiological and clinical characteristics of pure PLS patients treated at our neuromuscular clinic. ⋯ Though on review of literature there is no clear consensus about the existence of PLS as a distinct disease entity, we believe that there are rare cases of motor neuron disease with progressive upper motor neuron symptoms that throughout their course never convert to ALS. Our series highlights the demographic and clinical features of these patients and underscores the longer survival of these patients when compared with ALS.
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Neurodegener Dis Manag · Apr 2016
ReviewThe use of facial expressions for pain assessment purposes in dementia: a narrative review.
Facial expressions convey reliable nonverbal signals about pain and thus are very useful for assessing pain in patients with limited communicative ability, such as patients with dementia. In this review, we present an overview of the available pain observation tools and how they make use of facial expressions. ⋯ The main focus is on disinhibition, apathy and emotional changes. Finally, an overview of theoretical considerations and practical implications is presented for assessing pain using facial expressions in clinical settings.
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Neurodegener Dis Manag · Jan 2014
ReviewBreathing new life into treatment advances for respiratory failure in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients.
In the last three decades, improvements in respiratory management are responsible for increasing survival and improving quality of life for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients. Nowadays, ALS patients with respiratory involvement are offered a support treatment other than the traditional respiratory palliative care. ⋯ Noninvasive ventilation is essential in the treatment of ALS patients with respiratory involvement. In this article methods to determine respiratory failure in ALS, mechanical invasive and noninvasive ventilation, telemetry, diaphragm pacing, cough aids and respiratory exercise are reviewed, after a brief overlook of respiratory insufficiency in ALS.