Neurological Assessment Overview

Principles

Definition

Neurological assessment is a systematic methodological approach used to evaluate the structure, function, and integrity of the nervous system. It encompasses a range of techniques, including clinical examination, standardized psychometric and motor testing, and neuroimaging, employed in both clinical practice for diagnosis and monitoring, and in research to investigate brain-behavior relationships and the impact of neurological conditions.

Ontological type

Core Components

Clinical Indications

Standardized Tools

Key developments

Key Figures

Electrophysiology and Metabolism era

Graham M. Teasdale [1] was associated with the University of Groningen [3] and Erasmus University Rotterdam [4] during the Electrophysiology and Metabolism era. His key contributions in this era include the development and application of standardized assessments for coma and impaired consciousness, as described in the paper ASSESSMENT OF COMA AND IMPAIRED CONSCIOUSNESS [7], which provided a framework for translating electrophysiologic and metabolic observations into prognosis. Niels A. Lassen [2] was associated with Columbia University [5] and the University of Glasgow [6] during this era. His work on Regional Cerebral Blood Flow in Man Determined by the Initial Slope of the Clearance of Intra-arterially Injected l33Xe [8] (1971) linked regional perfusion to brain function and prognosis, informing clinical decisions in this era.

Standardized Multimodal Assessment era

W. I. McDonald [1] held roles across University College London [3] and the University of British Columbia [4] during this era. His key contributions included establishing new diagnostic criteria for multiple sclerosis through the 1983 guidelines for research protocols [7] and the 2000 diagnostic criteria for primary progressive MS [8], which standardized assessment and enhanced cross-center comparability. George C. Ebers [2] was affiliated with Stanford University [5] and the University of Wisconsin–Madison [6] during this period. His work on the predictive value of cerebrospinal fluid electrophoresis in 'possible' multiple sclerosis [9], alongside parallels with 1983 diagnostic criteria [7], helped integrate biomarkers into standardized diagnostic workflows of the era.

Multimodal Prognostication era

Ludwig Kappos[1] stands as a leading figure in multimodal prognostication, with affiliations at Harvard University[3] and the University of California, San Francisco[4] during this era. His contributions include the 2011 Diagnostic criteria for multiple sclerosis: 2010 Revisions to the McDonald criteria[6], which standardized diagnostic thresholds, and the 2018 Serum neurofilament as a predictor of disease worsening and brain and spinal cord atrophy in multiple sclerosis[7], highlighting biomarkers' prognostic value. Massimo Filippi[2] is another central figure linked to the University Memory and Aging Center[5] and the University of California, San Francisco[4] in this era. His work centers on leveraging imaging and biomarkers to refine prognosis in multiple sclerosis, as reflected in the 2011 McDonald criteria paper[6], underscoring how standardized diagnostics and biomarker-informed risk stratification can support prognosis-guided decisionmaking.