14th May 2026
Dr Laura Meader, Clinical Neuropsychologist, May 2026 We often hear reference to an “ageing population”, since people are continuing to live longer, particularly in developed countries. This has meant an increase in the numbers of people living with a dementia, which is estimated at around 1 million in the UK currently and predicted to rise More…
11th August 2025
Written by Dr Laura Meader, Clinical Neuropsychologist All names and other potentially identifying information has been changed to protect anonymity Mild cognitive impairment (MCI), sometimes called Mild cognitive disorder (MCD), is a diagnostic term used to describe problems with memory or other aspects of cognition (thinking abilities), usually affecting people aged 60+. Crucially, MCI implies More…
15th July 2025
Definition(s) The diagnostic criteria for Functional Neurological Disorder, as stated in the Diagnostic Statistical Manual (DSM-5), are as follows: i) “One or more symptoms of altered voluntary motor or sensory function; ii) clinical findings provide evidence of incompatibility between the symptoms and recognised neurological or medical conditions; iii) the symptom or deficit is not better More…
24th June 2025
Several years ago, I assessed Kayden, a professional footballer who had sustained a significant head injury whilst playing. I spoke with his coaches who reported their difficulties supporting him to comply with the medical advice, associated training plan and the protocols governing his return to competitive football; like many young people, Kayden saw himself as More…
5th June 2025
Written by Caitlin Thompson The complexities of rehabilitation after an acquired brain injury (ABI) and major disability are vast and it is known that managing the new physical, emotional, and cognitive changes can impact existing and future relationships (O’Keefe et al, 2020; McCabe et al, 2023). However, for some brain injury survivors who do not More…
22nd April 2025
For many readers, the background to the recent Court of Protection judgement1 by Justice Cobb will undoubtably have contained many recognisable features, including: a history of neurocognitive, psychiatric and family relationship difficulties the imperative, yet difficulty, of reconciling protection and empowerment capacity questions relating to a number of distinct, yet inter-related areas (such as decisions More…
17th April 2025
Dr Laura Meader, Clinical Neuropsychologist, April 2025 ‘ACT’ has been used as a talking therapy approach for several decades, and research findings suggest it can provide benefit for a wide variety of mental and physical health conditions that people experience. The ACT approach is considered a more modern form of the better-known Cognitive Behavioural Therapy More…
1st October 2024
by Victoria Allen, Senior Assistant Psychologist What is mTBI? Mild Traumatic Brain Injury, often referred to as mTBI, might sound minor, but it can have serious implications. The American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine (ACRM) defines mTBI as a brain injury resulting from trauma that leads to loss of More…
15th July 2024
Book Review Walker-Brown, H. (2022). A Delicate Game: Brain Injury, sport and Sacrifice. Hodder & Stoughton General Division: London. ISBN: 9781529348064 As I lifted Pauline’s brain out of its jar of aldehyde and held it apprehensively, I was suddenly struck by the mass of contradictions in my cupped hands; convoluted but beautifully simple; compact but immense; More…
7th May 2024
Written by JJ Wellock, Assistant Psychologist “We only use 10% of our brains”, “Opposite personalities attract”, “Mental health is a sign of weakness”. These are just a few statements that are widely shared and believed, yet are also myths. Research has found that false information was 70% more likely to be shared than true information More…