Neuromuscular disorders (NMDs) are a heterogenous group of rare inherited diseases that compromise the function of peripheral nerves and/or muscles. With limited treatment options available, there... Show moreNeuromuscular disorders (NMDs) are a heterogenous group of rare inherited diseases that compromise the function of peripheral nerves and/or muscles. With limited treatment options available, there is a growing need to design effective preclinical studies that can lead to greater success in clinical trials for novel therapeutics. Here, I discuss recent advances in modelling NMDs to improve preclinical studies as well as two articles from this issue that work in parallel to enable a deeper understanding of a particularly rare NMD, known as X-linked myotubular myopathy. Show less
Long-term care homes play an essential role within health and social care. Successful measures to support older people at home for longer have led to increased prevalence of disability, frailty and... Show moreLong-term care homes play an essential role within health and social care. Successful measures to support older people at home for longer have led to increased prevalence of disability, frailty and cognitive impairment in those who live in care homes over the last two decades. The need for care home places is projected to increase for the next two decades. Modern care homes provide care for people who are predominantly over 80, have multiple long-term conditions, take multiple medicines, are physically dependent and live with cognitive impairment. Residents do better when services recognise the contributions of staff and care home providers rather than treating residents as individual patients living in a communal setting. There is a strong case given residents' frailty, multimorbidity and disability, that care should be structured around Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment (CGA). Care should be designed to allow opportunities for multiprofessional teams to come together for CGA, particularly if healthcare professionals are based outside care homes. Good data about care homes and residents are central to efforts to deliver high quality care-in some countries, these data are collected but not collated. Collating such data is a priority. Care home staff are under-recognised and underpaid-parity of pay and opportunity with NHS staff is the bare minimum to ensure that the best are recruited and retained in the sector. During the COVID-19 pandemic, residents and relatives have frequently been left out of decisions about policies that affect them, and better consultation is needed to deliver high quality care. Show less
The ISSCR has developed the Informed Consent Standards for Human Fetal Tissue Donation and Research to promote uniformity and transparency in tissue donation and collection. This standard is... Show moreThe ISSCR has developed the Informed Consent Standards for Human Fetal Tissue Donation and Research to promote uniformity and transparency in tissue donation and collection. This standard is designed to assist those working with and overseeing the regulation of such tissue and reassure the wider community and public. Show less
In celebration of the ISSCR's 20th anniversary we asked past ISSCR presidents the question, "During your presidential year, what key achievements or issue(s) in the field stood out to you?'' The... Show moreIn celebration of the ISSCR's 20th anniversary we asked past ISSCR presidents the question, "During your presidential year, what key achievements or issue(s) in the field stood out to you?'' The collection of responses provides a glimpse of the evolution of the field and the ISSCR over the past 20 years. Show less
The sustainability of healthcare of older people in Europe is at stake. Many experts currently focus on the COVID-19 pandemic and its consequences. But there are other elements coming up that might... Show moreThe sustainability of healthcare of older people in Europe is at stake. Many experts currently focus on the COVID-19 pandemic and its consequences. But there are other elements coming up that might even have a greater impact. Healthcare systems, geriatric care and geriatric rehabilitation in particular, will face disruptive changes due to both demographic demand and a shortage of human and financial resources. This decade will be transformed by a high proportion of the older health workforce transitioning to retirement. This expertise must be retained. The brain drain of health care workers migrating from Eastern parts to Western Europe is diminishing. Discussing and deciding upon the priorities of value-based health care for older people such as equity and access is required. The acute healthcare sector in most countries focuses on fee-for-service models instead of building systemic approaches to maximise independence and autonomy of older citizens. In this commentary, we build on recent book chapters and articles on geriatric rehabililtation. Our main questions for the anniversary edition of Age and Ageing is what it is that geriatric rehabilitation could, should and must contribute in the roaring 2020s? Show less
