Clinical Management of Cognitive Disorders in Neurodegenerative Patients

A special issue of Brain Sciences (ISSN 2076-3425). This special issue belongs to the section "Neurorehabilitation".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 January 2025 | Viewed by 619

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
IRCCS Centro Neurolesi Bonino-Pulejo, S.S. 113 Via Palermo, C.da Casazza, 98124 Messina, Italy
Interests: neurodegenerative disorders; cognitive impairment; neuropsychology; Parkinson’s disease
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

A neurodegenerative disease is caused by the progressive loss of structure or function of neurons, in the process known as neurodegeneration. Neurodegeneration can be found in the brain at many different levels of neuronal circuitry, ranging from molecular to systemic. The symptoms of neurodegenerative diseases vary widely and can affect cognitive abilities, such as attention, learning, memory, perception, executive function, language, and social cognition, resulting in a decline in function that may occur over several years or several decades. For many individuals who develop cognitive impairment as a result of a neurodegenerative disease, symptoms will eventually progress far enough to be classified as a major neurocognitive disorder, or dementia. Due to the irreversible nature of the degeneration of the nervous tissue, the therapies for neurodegenerative disorders are aimed at slowing down the progress of degeneration and improving patients’ quality of life. The timely management of cognitive impairment has important prognostic and therapeutic implications. However, there remains a paucity of research on best practice recommendations to guide the development of interventions for cognitive and behavioral symptoms that form part of neurodegenerative diseases. The main approach to cognitive disorders combines pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions including comprehensive multidisciplinary rehabilitation.

Neurodegenerative diseases are extremely debilitating, increasingly common, and affect millions of people worldwide. Alternative and innovative treatment approaches for the management of cognitive problems are greatly needed in neurodegenerative diseases. We must improve our understanding of what causes neurodegenerative diseases and develop new approaches for treatment and prevention.

The aim of this Special Issue is to provide scientific evidence for the latest and most advanced research in the clinical management of cognitive disorders in neurodegenerative patients. The potential contribution of new techniques and training in improving cognitive symptoms as well as quality of life is particularly underlined through this Special Issue.

We welcome contributions in the form of original research articles, reviews, and short communications.

Dr. Viviana Lo Buono
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • neurodegenerative disorders
  • cognitive impairment
  • cognitive rehabilitation
  • dementia
  • multiple sclerosis
  • Parkinson’s disease
  • Huntington corea
  • TMS

Published Papers (1 paper)

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Review

10 pages, 455 KiB  
Review
The Impact of Social Cognition Deficits on Quality of Life in Multiple Sclerosis: A Scoping Review
by Giulia Marafioti, Davide Cardile, Laura Culicetto, Angelo Quartarone and Viviana Lo Buono
Brain Sci. 2024, 14(7), 691; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci14070691 - 11 Jul 2024
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Abstract
Background: Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a chronic neurological disease that affects the Central Nervous System by causing demyelination. Social cognition (SC) deficits are common among individuals with MS and can significantly impact their quality of life (QoL) due to difficulties in interpreting social [...] Read more.
Background: Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a chronic neurological disease that affects the Central Nervous System by causing demyelination. Social cognition (SC) deficits are common among individuals with MS and can significantly impact their quality of life (QoL) due to difficulties in interpreting social cues and establishing meaningful relationships. Objective: This scoping review aimed to investigate SC in subjects with MS and its impact on QoL. Methods: Systematic searches were performed in PubMed, Scopus, Embase, and Web of Science databases. After reading the full text of the selected studies and applying predefined inclusion criteria, four studies were included based on pertinence and relevance to the topic. Results: The findings highlight significant associations between SC deficits, social support, fatigue, and QoL outcomes. Cognitive decline was identified as a predictive factor for SC impairment in the MS population, which affects daily activities and relationships, thereby reducing QoL. Moreover, emotional impairments such as depression and anxiety exacerbate these challenges. Enhancing social support networks may improve psychological well-being and disease management in MS. Conclusions: Although evidence is limited, assessing SC is crucial in the care pathways for MS to develop tailored psychosocial interventions that address the cognitive, emotional, and social facets of the disease, thereby improving overall outcomes and QoL. Full article
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