Neuropalliative care is a field that aims to maximize quality of life for patients with serious or advanced neurologic conditions and their family members. With a patient- and family-centered focus of care, neuropalliative care incorporates physical, psychological, spiritual, and social aspects of care. Given both the acute and devastating, as well as the protracted, course of many neurologic diseases, there are high palliative care needs in this patient population.

While there are dedicated neuropalliative care specialists, any provider caring for patients with neurologic disease is encouraged to incorporate aspects of palliative care into their practice. A palliative approach to care involves clarifying goals of care throughout the course of disease, providing support to caregivers, assessing and managing symptoms, engaging in advance care planning discussions, and partnering with other primary and subspecialty providers.

In this issue of Seminars in Neurology, we cover a wide range of palliative care topics that are relevant to the neurologic provider community at large. We highlight some broader concepts such as methods of communicating difficult news and responding to emotions, or addressing ethical challenges in practice. Articles about providing neuropalliative care in the clinical setting offer inpatient and outpatient perspectives, as well as at the end of life. We include a specific focus on the pediatric population as the principles of palliative care can and should be incorporated at any age. Another article shares career development opportunities for providers who are interested in pursuing neuropalliative care as a specialty and for those who are interested in honing their primary palliative care skills.

Neuropalliative care is growing in breadth and depth with regard to clinical, educational, and research efforts. Yet, gaps in all of these areas continue to exist. We are excited to share two articles that broach emerging trends in neuropalliative care on the clinical and research fronts including one on neuropalliative care in epilepsy and one on psychosocial interventions incorporating patients and care partners in an effort to improve outcomes for this dyad. As clinicians and family caregivers accompany patients on an often-long journey of recovery and decline, which eventually leads to the end of life, it is important for them to sustain joy and meaning in their work, which is highlighted in the article “Sustaining joy in caring for the seriously ill neurologic patient.”

We hope this issue allows all Neurology providers the tools to better integrate a neuropalliative care approach into their clinical practice, such that all patients faced with neurological illnesses and their caregivers can receive high-quality, holistic, person-centered care.

Article published online:
17 October 2024

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