A team of neurologists, psychiatrists, neuropsychologists, and other health-care professionals specially trained in diagnosing and treating memory disorders will perform evaluations for patients experiencing memory loss. The memory work up may consist of an MRI of the Brain, laboratory tests and neuropsychological testing. However, each patient is treated individually and medical work ups will vary depending on the patient's past medical history and clinical presentation. Once the evaluation for the patient has been completed, this multidisciplinary team will discuss the findings with the patient and/or family and formulate a treatment and management plan. Patients will continue to be followed on a regular basis in the clinic based on their condition, clinical need, and their participation in research studies.
The team offers participation in a variety of research studies. These include investigational treatment studies for mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease, brain imaging studies utilizing MRI and PET scanning with state-of-the-art techniques and new radioactive tracers, genetic and family studies involving specific risk factors, and new approaches to make an early diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease. The Memory Disorders Center is the main clinical component of the Columbia University Alzheimer's Disease Research Center (ADRC), and is one of 28 specialized ADRCs funded by the National Institute on Aging, which is part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
Contact information
Clinic coordinator: 212-543-5853
Location
New York State Psychiatric Institute
1051 Riverside Drive, Room 1501, First Floor
New York City, NY 10032
Upper Manhattan - Washington Heights.
Staff
Richard Mayeux, MD
Director
Gregory Pelton, M.D.
Assistant Professor of Clinical Psychiatry
Gertrude H. Sergievsky
Professor of Neurology, Psychiatry & Epidemiology
Dr. Nikolaos Scarmeas, MD
Assistant Professor of Clinical Neurology
D.P. Devanand, MD
Co-Director
Professor of Clinical Psychiatry and Neurology
Yaakov Stern, PhD
Professor of Clinical Neuropsychology
Eligibility
A telephone screening will determine if a patient is eligible for an evaluation, however, all patients must be over the age of 55.
Referrals
Family members, friends, and physicians may refer patients to the Center.
Financial Information
Although the evaluation by the physician and neuropsychologist are free of charge, the medical work-up is the financial responsibility of the patient (i.e. medical insurance).