Neurological diseases are an important area of medicine, also given the high impact in terms of frequency, disabling outcomes and high costs for health systems. Part of them are related to ageing and, therefore, their frequency is expected to increase in the near future. Recent advances are consequent to the essential contribution of basic research, concerning either pathophysiology or diagnostics. Both have provided substantial advances regarding treatments, despite the fact that etiology remains often still undefined. In this review new developments regarding pathophysiology, diagnostics and treatment of main neurological diseases (Alzheimer disease, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson disease, epilepsy, and cerebrovascular disease) are discussed.