Sunday, November 23, 2008

Neurologists and Treatment of neurological Disorders at Emory

By Jonas White

In general, Neurology is a medical specialty dealing with disorders of the nervous system; specifically affecting the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord), the peripheral nervous system, or the autonomic nervous system. These systems lead Neurologists to treat a vast span of conditions ranging from Movement disorders like Parkinson's to more psychological disorders like Alzheimer's.

The Emory Neurology Surgery team is among the nation's leading departments for neurosurgical patient care, teaching, and research, and they deal with conditions affecting the brain, spine, and nerves. Emory has the only neurocritical care unit for critically ill patients with cerebrovascular disorders. In addition, Emory is among the regional leaders regarding the number of brain aneurysms and vascular malformations of the brain and spinal cord it treats yearly.

Emory has a Movement Disorder clinic that helps those who suffer from debilitating Movement Disorders like Parkinsons, and also work with those who suffer from dystonia, essential tremor, Huntington's Disease, and Tourette's syndrome. The center provides comprehensive services ranging from diagnosis to rehabilitation. Movement disorders are treated by neurosurgeons because they are caused by problems in the brain that interfere with a person's ability to move; causing either too much movement or too little movement.

One of the most well known movement disorders results from Parkinson's Disease. The Emory Movement Disorder clinic helps those who suffer from this debilitating disease but also work with those who suffer from dystonia, essential tremor, Huntington's Disease, and Tourette's syndrome. The center provides comprehensive services ranging from diagnosis to rehabilitation.

In addition to the Movement Disorders Clinic, Emory also has The Alzheimer's Disease Center and Cognitive Behavioral Neurology program which offers top of the line treatment and comprehensive education, evaluation, diagnosis, and support for patients with dementia and their families. Dementia caused by Alzheimer's can result in lasting confusion or cognitive impairment.

Symptoms usually include at least one or more of the following: memory loss; difficulty with skilled motor tasks; impaired judgment and reasoning; loss of motivation, planning ability and organizational skills; problems with calculations and behavioral problems, including paranoia, and agitation. Emory recognizes how complex these diseases are and provides a multi-disciplinary team of physicians, neuropsychologists, nurses, counselors, and psychometricians provides outpatient consultations and evaluations include clinical examination and cognitive screening assessment.

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