Shelley L. Forrest is a neurologist based in Sydney, NSW, Australia. She looks after people with brain and nervous system conditions, especially long-term conditions that can change over time. Neurology can feel overwhelming, so the aim is to keep things clear and grounded from the start.
Her clinic work covers a mix of movement and thinking problems. This can include Parkinson’s disease, and other movement disorders like progressive supranuclear palsy and corticobasal degeneration. She also cares for people with multiple system atrophy and cerebellar conditions, where balance, movement, and everyday tasks can be affected.
There are also neurodegenerative conditions that involve thinking and behaviour. At times, this includes Alzheimer’s disease, frontotemporal dementia, and Lewy body dementia. People may notice changes in memory, focus, or how they feel and act. In many cases, it also affects carers and family, so support and practical guidance are part of the conversation.
Shelley also sees patients with motor neuron disease, including ALS (sometimes called Lou Gehrig’s disease). Symptoms can involve muscle weakness and loss of function, and early planning can make a big difference for comfort and care at home.
Some patients come in for eye and movement coordination issues too. For example, conditions like supranuclear ophthalmoplegia can lead to trouble with eye movements, and Brown syndrome can affect how the eyes move. She focuses on finding what’s causing the changes and what can be done to manage symptoms.
At times, she also works with complex conditions where blood vessels in the brain can be involved, such as cerebral amyloid angiopathy, and with disorders of the body’s automatic functions, including familial dysautonomia. These cases can be tricky, so she takes time to explain what the symptoms might mean and what options are available.
Because neurology moves quickly, she keeps up with current research and new approaches, particularly in movement disorders and dementia care. Treatment plans are usually built around the person’s situation, what matters most to them, and how they’re coping day to day. If care needs to involve other health professionals, she works with the wider team to help everything fit together.
