MND Workshop: Cognitive Deficits and behavioural symptoms in MND

Event Notes:

Behavioural symptoms in MND can be very challenging for family members and healthcare professionals, as they are difficult to manage and can easily be confused with natural psychological reactions to a terminal disease. However, cognitive and behavioural symptoms in MND are due to brain changes and are present in at least 50% of people living with MND, with severity ranging from mild (~35%) to MND with frontotemporal dementia (MNDFTD, ~15%).

This workshop will be delivered by Eneida Mioshi, a researcher with a long track record of applied research in this field, and Sue Heal, a former carer with lived experience of MNDFTD.

By the end of the one-day session, participants will have an understanding of:

• the impact of cognitive and behavioural symptoms on the person living with MND
• the impact of cognitive and behavioural symptoms on the family: Sue’s experience
• introductory knowledge of research in this area (the scientific literature)
• the international ALSFTD diagnostic criteria
• main behavioural symptoms in MND
• differences between behavioural symptoms and mental health issues in MND
• clinical assessments to use in practice.