An estimated 80 million people live with a neurodegenerative disease. That number is expected to increase rapidly as populations age, lifespans increase, and exposure to toxins rises. Despite decades of research and billions in funding, there are no medications that can slow, much less stop, the progress of these diseases. This is because diseases such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's do not exist in biology. Yet, hundreds of clinical trials around the world are examining the potential of single therapies in thousands of people sharing one of these labels. Compounding the problem, these therapies were developed on evidence from models that do not come close to capturing the complexity of these diseases in the affected humans. These practices must end. Brain Fables is a call to refocus on understanding living and aging to create the personalized treatments each affected individual desperately needs.

Clinical case studies are fundamental in cementing theoretical training, especially for neurological disorders where diagnosis can be difficult. This book describes a variety of clinical scenarios associated with either the misdiagnosis or incorrect management of cognitive and behavioral neurological syndromes, identifying common pitfalls, which are discussed in detail. Each case emphasizes the importance of information derived from the patient's history and physical examination in forming a correct diagnosis. Focusing on disorders and presentations that are a frequent source of confusion, key diagnostic principles are illustrated clearly. Questions to the reader move the narrative along logically, whilst highlighting specific aspects of clinical presentation that lead to the correct diagnosis. Videos of patients connect readers to the cases and demonstrate how to avoid diagnostic pitfalls. An online version of the book can be accessed on Cambridge Core, via the code printed on the inside of the cover.

Slowness of movement ("bradykinesia") is the most important deficit in Parkinson's disease (PD). Current clinical rating of bradykinesia in PD does not separate the dimensions of slowness and amplitude reduction. We categorized patterns of movement in PD patients on a biaxial classification of speed and amplitude using an electromagnetic tracking device (Polhemus) seeking to determine whether these categories may differentially contribute to motor impairment and disability. Motor impairment was worst in patients with very impaired amplitude and best in patients with normal amplitude. Categories of speed impairment did not show a similar relationship. The Schwab & England disability scale decreased with higher severity levels of the amplitude category but not of speed. Agreement (unweighted kappa) between clinician and Polhemus-derived speed-amplitude classification were moderate for speed and amplitude classifications. Our observations suggest that amplitude and speed impairments might behave differentially in PD and may deserve consideration in a biaxial classification system.