Alzheimer’s Disease, Frontotemporal-Based Spectrum Disorders, Neurovascular disease, and the parkinsonism related diseases
Neurodegenerative diseases affect millions of people worldwide, and Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease are the most common types. More than five million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease, and at least 500,000 Americans live with Parkinson’s disease, although some estimates are much higher.
Neurodegenerative diseases occur when nerve cells in the brain or peripheral nervous system lose function over time and ultimately die. Although treatments may help relieve some of the physical or mental symptoms associated with neurodegenerative diseases, there is currently no cure or way to slow disease progression.
Alzheimer’s Disease
Alzheimer’s disease is a degenerative brain disease and the most common cause of dementia.
Dementia is characterized by a decline in memory, language, problem-solving and other cognitive skills that affects a person’s ability to perform everyday activities. This decline occurs because nerve cells (neurons) in parts of the brain involved in cognitive function have been damaged or destroyed.
In Alzheimer’s disease, the damage and destruction of neurons eventually affect other parts of the brain, including those that enable a person to carry out basic bodily functions such as walking and swallowing. People in the final stages of the disease are bed-bound and require around-the-clock care. Alzheimer’s disease is ultimately fatal.
The NeuroCognitive Institute is an active site of clinical trials for Alzheimer’s Disease. Clinical trials are the best way for researchers to find new ways to detect, slow, treat and hopefully someday prevent Alzheimer’s disease. Learn more.
Find out more about Alzheimer’s Disease
Frontotemporal-Based Spectrum Disorders
Frontotemporal disorders are forms of dementia caused by a family of brain diseases known as frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD). Dementia is a severe loss of thinking abilities that interferes with a person’s ability to perform daily activities such as working, driving, and preparing meals. Other brain diseases that can cause dementia include Alzheimer’s disease and multiple strokes. Scientists estimate that FTLD may cause up to 10 percent of all cases of dementia and is the second most common cause of dementia, after Alzheimer’s, in people younger than age 65. Roughly 60 percent of people with FTLD are 45 to 64 years old.
Learn more about Frontotemporal-Based Spectrum Disorders
Parkinson’s Disease
Parkinson’s disease is a progressive and degenerative brain disorder that affects an individual’s muscle movement. Due to the dying of specific brain cells, people with Parkinson’s disease produce less dopamine. Dopamine is a vital chemical that transmits messages to the part of the brain responsible for movement. With insufficient dopamine movements become slower, and the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease become more pronounced.
Learn more about Parkinson’s Disease
Parkinsonism Related Diseases
Other disease may cause symptoms similar to Parkinson’s disease. The term Parkinsonism is used to indicate a patient has symptoms similar to Parkinson’s. Approximately 15% of Parkinsonism is due to diseases other than Parkinson’s disease.
Early in the disease process it may be difficult to distinguish between Parkinson’s disease and Parkinson-like diseases. Frequently the correct diagnosis can only be made after further symptoms develop and the physician is able to monitor the course of the disease. The development of additional symptoms and the subsequent course of the disease generally points to the correct diagnosis.
There is no cure or known cause for the following Parkinson-like diseases. Parkinsonism other than Parkinson’s Disease should be considered particularly in patients with:
- Poor response to dopamine
- Early loss of balance
- Prominent intellectual changes – dementia
- Rapid onset or progression
- Rapid decrease in blood pressure resulting in dizziness when standing up
- Urinary and bowel incontinence
- Little or no tremor
Learn more about Parkinsonism Related Diseases
Treatment for Neurodegenerative Diseases at The NeuroCognitive & Behavioral Institute
An Interdisciplinary Clinical Team Approach
We use a multi-layered treatment approach when treating neurodegeneratives disorders. Patients are treated by an interdisciplinary team of clinicians that includes: a clinical neuropsychologist, a clinical psychologist or behaviorist, a cognitive rehab/speech language therapist and a neuromodulation clinician.
We provide a comprehensive combination of traditional, complementary, as well as, experimental treatments not typically available at any other clinics. For instance, when treating cognitive disorders we typically treat by combining cognitive rehabilitation, with cognitive enhancers, and one or more forms of neuromodulation superimposed on comprehensive behavioral health plan that utilizes specific nutrition requirements, heart-rate variability training, maximizing sleep and the reduction of stress. Similar combination therapies are used for treating a variety of neuropsychiatric conditions such as OCD, as well as, in the treatment of chronic pain and fatigue.
Some of these treatments and consultation options include:
Neurocognitive Rehabilitation
Patients admitted to the cognitive rehabilitation program enter a module based on their primary type of cognitive impairment, e.g., the Attention, Working Memory and Executive System impairment module. Each patient will receive specific treatments for this type of cognitive disorder using a combination of remedial, adaptive and compensatory interventions that have been developed at the NeuroCognitive Institute for their module.
Neuromodulation
We often combine cognitive and language rehabilitation with neuromodulation. Neuromodulation is evolving as a treatment option for treating the cognitive, behavioral and psychiatric symptoms and deficits resulting from neurodegeneratives disorders.
Techniques include invasive procedures such as deep brain stimulation and electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), as well as, non-invasive techniques such as transcranial direct current stimulation tDCS, neurofeedback and rTMS.
At NCI, we only use non-invasive neuromodulation intervention combined with other rehabilitation interventions to enhance treatment response.
Speech and Language Therapy
Speech and language therapy focuses on improving speech and abilities to understand and express language.
NCI has speech therapists who can help assess speech delays, restore speech and language skills from young children to adults with neurodegeneratives disorders.
Behavioral Health Interventions
Behavioral health interventions focus on changing or modifying a patient’s lifestyle such as diet and introducing specific exercise programs to enhance cortical and cognitive functioning.
Pharmaceuticals and Nutraceuticals
We use various medications to treat the cognitive, neurobehavioral and neuropsychiatric deficits and symptoms of neurodegeneratives disorders.
Contact Us
If you or know anyone who needs help, contact The NeuroCognitive & Behavioral Institute for assessment and treatment. Call (973) 601 0100 or sign up as a new patient and we will get back to you as soon as we can.
