Alzheimer’s and Dementia

Wayne Health physicians offer a comprehensive array of diagnostic tests, treatments and innovative care at the Dementia and Behavioral Neurology Clinic. The clinic serves adult patients with memory loss and cognitive impairment resulting from a wide range of developmental, acquired and neurodegenerative causes, including Alzheimer’s disease.

As faculty members involved in dementia research at the Wayne State School of Medicine, we can make the latest treatments and clinical trials available to our patients.

At the Dementia and Behavioral Neurology Clinic, Wayne Health neurologists take a holistic approach to care, addressing all of a patient’s needs, including behavioral health care and support for patients and their families. Our treatment plan includes:

• Evaluation of memory and other thinking abilities using specialized tests
• Psychiatric evaluation and treatment for associated mood and behavior disorders
• Assessment and follow-up care by behavioral neurologists dedicated to treating those with dementia
• Disease education, counseling and referrals to community support services
• Opportunities to participate in leading-edge research trials for Alzheimer’s dementia, frontotemporal dementia, Lewy body dementia, Parkinson disease dementia, and for those with both seizures and dementia.

Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type of dementia. It mainly causes memory loss, especially short-term memory loss, resulting in misplaced items, forgotten conversations, asking the same questions repeatedly and getting lost while driving or walking. Alzheimer’s disease is very different from the mild memory loss that occurs with normal aging and is caused by abnormal protein deposits in the brain. A comprehensive evaluation by experts in different forms of dementia is important to ensure an accurate diagnosis.

Wayne Health’s Dementia and Behavioral Neurology Clinic offers comprehensive, multidisciplinary diagnostic evaluation, addressing both medical and behavioral health needs. As part of this comprehensive approach, our clinicians meet with a patient’s family members to discuss diagnosis, prognosis and treatment options.

Currently, there is no known solution to prevent Alzheimer’s disease, the most common form of dementia. Since there is a hereditary component to Alzheimer’s, our clinicians can advise family members of steps to take to make Alzheimer’s disease less likely. These include:

• Participating in regular aerobic exercise
• Intellectual stimulation by working, being socially active
• Eating a healthy, Mediterranean diet, that includes fresh fruits and vegetables, olive oil, nuts, cheese and fish – which have been found to help prevent dementia
• Taking steps to control other health conditions, like high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes

Wayne Health physicians and researchers are faculty members at Wayne State University School of Medicine who conduct basic, translational and clinical research. This makes the latest treatments and clinical trials available to you sooner than other providers without a medical school affiliation.

Wayne Health neurologists are currently involved in research that uses brain MRI scans to examine brain tissue injury in people with memory disorders. The study will help us to better understand the disease process in memory disorders and to develop MRI scanning techniques to improve care for patients with memory disorders.

For more information, please visit the links below at the WSU School of Medicine.