Functional Cognitive Disorders

Recorded at the King’s Conference Centre in Southampton this talk was delivered as part of the Wessex Dementia Research Conference 2025 on 2nd July 2025.

In this session, Dr Elizabeth Mallam (North Bristol NHS Trust) explores Functional Cognitive Disorders (FCD), explaining what they are, how they present, and why they are often misunderstood or misdiagnosed.

She outlines how FCD fits within the wider group of Functional Neurological Disorders, describing symptoms such as memory and attention difficulties that occur despite normal scans or test results. Dr Mallam highlights key features that distinguish FCD from neurodegenerative diseases, including abrupt onset, symptom variability, and a mismatch between reported experience and objective findings.

The talk also addresses the clinical and personal consequences of missed or incorrect diagnoses, as well as the importance of giving patients a clear and supportive explanation. Practical advice is provided on how to identify and manage FCD, including routes to therapy and the value of a positive diagnosis.

This session offers guidance on recognising functional symptoms and supporting patients more effectively in both clinical and research settings.
--

Dementia Researcher works alongside events organisers to share their work. If you're organising a dementia research event and would like us to record or share your talks, to get them open access and to reach a wider audience, get in touch:

https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.a...
--

Follow us on Social Media:

  / dementia_researcher     / dementia.researcher     / demrescommunity     / dementia-researcher   https://bsky.app/profile/dementiarese...