Clinical Divisions
Cognitive Disorders Clinic
A Cognitive Disorders Clinic (CDC) is seen at the Methodist, VA, and Ben Taub (monthly) hospitals. Persons with many forms of cognitive impairment are seen, worked up, treated, and enrolled in a variety of studies. The CDC complements the Alzheimer's Disease Research Center (ADRC).
Dementia
The Alzheimer's Disease and Memory Disorders Center (ADMDC), directed by Rachelle Doody M.D. Ph.D., assesses and follows individuals with a range of cognitive problems, from normal aging to Mild Cognitive Impairment and various forms of dementia. Research in the center focuses on understanding heterogeneity in AD and other memory disorders, modeling the progression of disease with clinical measures and biological markers, and development of new therapies. Researchers in the Center work with a large network of basic and clinical scientists in the Texas Medical Center, nationally, and internationally.
Epilepsy
Our epilepsy center under the direction of Dr. Eli Mizrahi has facilities for 24-hour video monitoring of seizure patients, an extensive sleep laboratory, and an active surgical program for temporal lobe seizures. Basic studies under the direction of Dr. Jeffrey Noebels emphasize the role of ion channels, altered neurotransmitter regulation, synaptic activity, and calcium channel mutations in mouse models of epilepsy. We recently initiated an epilepsy surgery program at our VA Hospital, one of only a few in the country.
Multiple Sclerosis
The Baylor College of Medicine-The Methodist Hospital Multiple Sclerosis Center is composed of the Research Unit, an Outreach Program, and the Maxine Mesinger Multiple Sclerosis Clinic. Dr. Jingwu Zhang is the Scientific Director of the Research Unit. His pioneering work on immunologic mechanisms of MS has included investigations of T cell pathology, gene profiling in MS and potential roles of viral infection in the pathogenesis of MS. Dr. Victor Rivera is the Medical Director, and Dr. George Hutton is the Assistant Medical Director of the Maxine Mesinger Multiple Sclerosis Clinic. This state-of-the art multidisciplinary clinic provides a full spectrum of services to patients with MS and their families. There are numerous ongoing clinical trials investigating novel treatment strategies in MS.
Neurogenetics
The department has a large number of basic and clinical studies involving neurogenetic disorders including Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, muscular dystrophies, ion-channelopathies, inherited cerebellar ataxias, Huntington's disease, familial Parkinson's disease, familial epilepsy, and many others.
Neurologic Intensive Care
Residents follow all their patients from the Emergency Room or the wards into the Neurologic Intensive Care Unit at The Methodist Hospital and Ben Taub Hospital to learn about managing acute neurologic illnesses. At the VA Hospital, a medical team takes care of a patient's general medical problems, and our neurology residents attend to the patient's neurologic disorder. A combined Cardiology/Neurology step-down unit will open this fall and provide a setting to manage none complex stroke patients.
Neuromuscular Disease
The Neuromuscular Disease Center under the direction of Dr. Yadollah Harati is one of the largest clinical diagnostic centers in the country including an independent muscle, nerve pathology and autonomics laboratory in the country. His laboratory has two clinical fellowship positions per year.
Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorders
The primary missions for The Parkinson’s Disease Center and Movement Disorders Clinic (PDCMDC), headed by Joseph Jankovic, M.D., professor of Neurology, are: 1. to provide the most professional and compassionate care for patients with Parkinson’s disease, other neurodegenerative disorders, and movement disorders, such as tremor, dystonia, Tourette’s syndrome, Huntington’s disease, restless legs syndrome, ataxia and spasticity; 2. to initiate and conduct clinical and basic research which upholds the highest scientific standards, and 3. to train physicians to become skilled in the recognition and treatment of movement disorders and to inspire them to pursue basic or clinical research in the area of movement and neurodegenerative disorders. The PDCMDC also provides a setting for clinical research and a 2-year fellowship program, which focuses on the recognition, pathophysiology and treatment of movement disorders, including development of skills in botulinum toxin injections and deep brain stimulation. Other members of the PDCMDC include Drs. William Ondo and Joohi Jimenez-Shahed.
Stroke
The stroke clinic and research stroke program has recently been initiated at the MEDUAMC under the direction of Dr. Thomas Kent. The program offers acute and secondary prevention protocols and works closely with cardiovascular and vascular surgery services for diagnostic and interventional procedures. This is a very active clinical and basic research program as well, including research on neuroplasticity, recover of function and brain imaging.