The term “neurodegenerative disease” describes those disorders in which structural
neuroanatomic changes are associated with an evolving course. This evolutive
process can be chronic, increase progressively in severity, or can appear as a series of
separate episodes; whatever the case in point, the end result is a progressive deterioration
in the patient's condition.
As with all pathologies affecting the central nervous system, the appearance of
neuropsychiatric effects is highly likely in the context of neurodegenerative diseases.
Neuropsychiatric manifestations are often part of the clinical picture in neurodegenerative
disease, either as a result of the neurodegeneration itself, or as an integral part
of the initial presentation of the disease.The origin of these symptoms will affect the
choice of whether or not a particular therapeutic strategy should be applied.
The neurodegenerative diseases are also distinguished by the fact that neurologic
and psychiatric symptoms appear alongside each other, thus creating a link between the
two specialties. Depending on the clinical presentation, the management of the patient
will be either principally neurologic or principally psychiatric. Scientists and clinicians
from both specialties can thus share their clinical observations, their scientific ideas, and
the results of their investigations.
The large variety of approaches available in this field is reflected by the diversity
of the authors who have contributed to this issue of Dialogues in Clinical Neuroscience;
the choice of these authors was intended to exemplify this wide range of approaches.
Drs Barry Lebowitz and Rajesh Parikh are to be congratulated on their efforts in
compiling this interesting and high-quality issue on the theme of neurodegenerative
disease.
Sincerely yours,
Jean-Paul Macher,MD
Alert
