[Neurology in the elderly]

Possibilities and limits of neurology in the elderly are presented. Normal ageing processes of the brain, the possible interactions with extra- and intracerebral processes and reactions are discussed. Special attention is paid to the great variability of all clinical findings in the elderly, the difficulties of their interpretation, the always present polypathy, the doubtful so-called specific findings in old people. Instead of trying to diagnose doubtful neurological diseases of old age, it is recommended to respect anamnesis, clinical and technical findings (as EEG, digital subtraction angiography, computerized tomography) and to appoint them to the syndromes which may appear in a whole lot of different combinations of symptoms. From this approach a better therapeutical success is expected.