Dementia refers to a group of symptoms consisting of memory loss, impaired judgement, disorientation and behavioural changes, which severely affect daily function. Symptoms of Dementia include:

• Recent memory loss
• Difficulty performing familiar tasks
• Problems with language
• Poor or decreased judgement
• Changes in personality

Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia. Current treatments available for Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias are only able to treat the symptoms and do not delay or slow down the progression of the condition. Therefore, further research is required to help understand the changes taking place in the brain so that new treatments can be developed.

Parkinson’s disease is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder after Alzheimer’s disease. Some symptoms of Parkinson’s disease include:

• Shaking of arms or legs when at rest
• Stiffness of arms, legs or body
• Slowness of movement and walking
• Stability problems when walking or standing

Other common signs include an expressionless face, softer voice, smaller handwriting, drooling of saliva, difficulty swallowing, and walking difficulties.
Current treatments available for Parkinson’s disease are able to treat the symptoms and can delay worsening to some extent. However, they are unable to stop the progression of the condition. Therefore, further research is required to help understand the changes taking place in the brain so that new treatments can be developed.

A stroke occurs if there is an interruption of blood supply to the brain. Common symptoms include:

• Weakness of face, arm, leg on one side
• Slurred speech or speech difficulty
• Impaired vision
• Loss of balance or giddiness

These symptoms usually occur suddenly and may get worse over the following minutes or hours. They may occur during sleep and be noticed only on waking up.
Current treatments are primarily aimed at preventing a Stroke from occurring and restoring correct blood flow to the brain area affected. Further treatment is then aimed at rehabilitation. No treatments are yet available that prevent the longer term effects of a stroke. Therefore, further research is required to help understand the changes taking place in the brain so that new treatments can be developed.

Depression is an illness that affects the body, mood and thoughts to a point of dysfunction. It affects a person’s eating and sleeping habits, and cognitive processes. A person who experiences three or more of these symptoms for more than two weeks may have a depressive illness:

• Persistent sadness; or feeling down or gloomy
• Weight loss or weight gain; or decrease or increase in appetite
• Difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep; or sleeping excessively
• Feelings of worthlessness or excessive guilt
• Difficulty concentrating or having trouble thinking

Many effective treatments are available for depression that can reduce and even stop the symptoms, so that normal living can be restored. However, in some people with long term depression, it can be resistant to current treatments. Therefore, further research is required to understand why this is and to develop better drugs.

Anxiety can be a normal or an appropriate emotion when dealing with day-to-day stresses or problems. However, when these emotions are persistent, excessive and irrational, they may affect a person’s daily function. When this occurs, the anxiety becomes an abnormal condition or disorder. Anxiety triggers unpleasant symptoms such as:

• Confusion
• A sense of helplessness
• Excessive worry
• Pounding heart (palpitations)
• Difficulty breathing

There are effective treatments readily available for most anxiety disorders that can reduce and even stop the symptoms, so that normal living can be restored. However, some types of anxiety disorders remain resistant to treatment and therefore, further research is required to understand why this is and to develop better drugs.

Schizophrenia is a major psychotic illness that results from fragmented mental processes. A person with schizophrenia may exhibit distorted or exaggerated functions that are normally present (coined ‘positive symptoms’), or deficiency of a mental function that is normally present (coined ‘negative symptoms’).

Positive Symptoms can include:

• Hallucinations (e.g. voices, smells, tastes experienced that do not exist)
• Delusions (i.e. of being persecuted or controlled, or his / her mind being read)
• Bizarre or disorganised behavior

Negative Symptoms can include:

• Lack of communication skills
• Emotional blunting (i.e. not displaying any emotion whether positive or negative)
• Attention impairment
• Lack of motivation and drive

Treatments are available that help to control and give relief from the symptoms of schizophrenia. Together with psychotherapy, they are able to help an individual return to normal living. However, further research is still needed to determine the etiology, and pathophysiology of schizophrenia for better diagnosis and treatment.