Movement disorders

Movement disorders are a diverse and challenging group of neurological conditions. Geriatricians and allied health professionals play a key role in the care of patients living with these disorders. Age and Ageing is making freely available online a collection of 15 papers which highlight the breadth and depth of this field. Perhaps unsurprisingly papers on Parkinson’s disease predominate, but rarer movement disorders, including those seen following stroke and Huntington’s disease, are also represented. Difficulties in diagnosis are explored, together with innovative approaches to management of both motor and non-motor symptoms. The collection includes qualitative work, longitudinal studies and clinical trials, and both the individual patient perspective and the international perspective are considered. There are papers for generalists, papers for specialists, papers for clinical commissioners, and papers for researchers. Comprehensive review articles provide clarity, guidance and pragmatism. Finally, a new horizons article encourages us to look to the future of movement disorders, which lies not only in developing novel therapies and trials but also in recognising the enormous value of palliative care and the multidisciplinary approach.

Dr Victoria J Haunton

University Hospitals of Leicester

The full commentary can be read here.

1. Mild cognitive impairment in Parkinson's disease. Alison Jane Yarnall, Lynn Rochester, David John Burn

2. Sleep-related problems of Parkinson’s disease. V. Dhawan, et al.

3. Accuracy of diagnosis in patients with presumed Parkinson's disease. J Meara, B K Bhowmick, P Hobson

4. Abdominal massage for the alleviation of symptoms of constipation in people with Parkinson's: a randomised controlled pilot study. Doreen McClurg, et al.

5. The incidence of Parkinson's disease in the North-East of England. Gordon William Duncan, et al.

6. Screening for depression in Parkinson's disease: the performance of two screening questions. Sarah Baillon, et al.

7. Hard to swallow: dysphagia in Parkinson’s disease. Nick Miller, et al.

8. The challenge of Parkinson's disease management in Africa. C. L. Dotchin, et al.

9. Self-reported Functioning and Well-being in Patients with Parkinson's Disease: Comparison of the Short-form Health Survey (SF-36) and the Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire (PDQ-39). C. Jenkinsion, et al.

10. Assessment and management of fracture risk in patients with Parkinson's disease. Veronica Lyell, et al.

11. Highlighting the goals for Parkinson’s care: commentary on NICE Guidelines for Parkinson’s in Adults (NG71). Peter Brock, et al.

12. New horizons in the pathogenesis, assessment and management of movement disorders. Gordon W. Duncan, et al.

13. Movement disorders after stroke. Alexandra Handley, et al.

14. Essential tremor—the most common movement disorder in older people. Bhomraj Thanvi, Nelson Lo, Tom Robinson

15. Late-onset Huntington's Disease: A Clinical and Molecular Study. C. M. James, et al.

Browse the full library of themed collections on the Age and Ageing website.