Spirituality and mental well being in old age

December’s holiday season is not only a time of feasting and celebration, but of contemplation. For Christians, the 25th marks one of their most sacred holy days. Professors John Wattis and Stephen Curran take time out to refl ect on the diffi cult relations between science and religion, the role of spiritual belief in the mental health of the elderly patient and the evidence it has an effect even on patients with dementia.