The Cerebral Function Unit is a cognitive neurology clinic run by an interdisciplinary team of neurologists, neuropsychologists, neuropsychiatrists and researchers based at Salford Royal Hospital.
We specialise in the recognition and diagnosis of early-onset and rare neurodegenerative dementias. We have particular experience in assessing patients with Frontotemporal Dementia and early onset Alzheimer’s disease. We have a special interest in people who present with progressive disorders of language, behaviour, or visuospatial function. We also specialise in seeing individuals with possible genetic causes of dementia, and those with combinations of cognitive and neurological/physical problems.
The range of conditions we regularly encounter include, but are not limited to:
- Frontotemporal Dementia
- Semantic Dementia
- Progressive Non Fluent Aphasia
- Primary Progressive Aphasia
- Alzheimer’s disease
- Lewy Body Disease
- Progressive Supranuclear Palsy
- Corticobasal Syndrome
- Creutzfeldt Jacob Disease
In the clinic patients are fully assessed by a neurologist or neuropsychiatrist and undergo detailed neuropsychological evaluation by a member of the neuropsychology team. We then put together information from the clinical interview and neurological examination, and neuropsychological assessment, as well as any brain scans that patients may have already had elsewhere.
This information is discussed at a weekly interdisciplinary meeting and diagnosis is reached by the team. Further investigations, such as additional scans or genetic testing, are arranged as necessary.
Patients and their family members are invited back to discuss results fully and establish a management plan. People attending the clinic receive information and support from our unit social worker. Long term management of patients is then often shared with the referring doctor or psychiatrist.
The CFU has a strong research interest and patients will often be asked if they wish to participate in research studies. Naturally this is entirely voluntary and a patient’s decision to participate or not has no effect on their ongoing care.