Neurodegenerative Dementias

As the world's population expands and ages, clinicians are increasingly faced with the challenge of accurately diagnosing neurodegenerative dementias. At this point most treatments are symptomatic, but there are several potentially modifiable disorders, which, though rare, warrant immediate investigation in patients presenting with progressive cognitive and behavioral symptoms. The not-too-distant future holds the promise of more definitive intervention in the development of the neuropathological proteinopathies that characterize the majority of the neurodegenerative dementias described in this issue. Of critical importance to clinicians is the fact that potentially disease-modifying interventions will only be successful when diagnoses are made early and accurately.

In this issue of Seminars in Neurology, a talented cohort of clinicians, educators, and researchers describes current and clinically relevant guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of neurodegenerative illnesses including Alzheimer's disease, dementia with Lewy bodies, frontotemporal dementia, primary progressive aphasia and apraxia, prion diseases, autoimmune and paraneoplastic encephalopathies, and young-onset dementias. Each chapter also explores the neurobiology of the disease, which is complemented by chapters focusing on neuroimaging and neurogenetics across the spectrum of neurodegenerative etiologies. The articles in this issue aim to provide clinicians with a framework for approaching patients with neurodegenerative dementias and to offer hope regarding a future using sophisticated biomarkers in diagnostic and therapeutic strategies toward a common goal of impacting prognosis and quality of life for patients and families living with these illnesses.

Personally, as a clinician–educator, I am proud to congratulate the authors on the inclusion of trainees in the preparation of these manuscripts, which highlights the exciting future in this field of scientific inquiry and patient care. I would also like to thank Karen Roos for her continued professional support and the unique opportunity to serve in the role of Guest Editor. Additionally, I would like to acknowledge my mentors in neurologic education: Robert Pascuzzi and Eduardo Benarroch, as well as my mentors in behavioral neurology: Keith Josephs, Bradley Boeve, and Bruce Miller. Last, but certainly not least, I would like to express (in print) my love for and gratitude to my husband, Geoffrey Palmer, who has the courage and patience to stay at home raising our young children, Lexie and Atticus, so that I may continue to satisfy my intellectual curiosity and passion for doing my best work with students and patients alike.