Are you getting older? Of course, we all are! We don’t always see some of the obvious aging signs like gray hair and wrinkles, as many changes, including those in the brain, are out of sight.
Medical science has yet to reach a consensus about brain aging, but it will be the hottest topic in the next five years, affecting the burgeoning aging population. In the meantime, Marshall University School of Medicine is partnering with Cabell Huntington Hospital to create a Center for Neuroscience.
As the baby boomers reach retirement age, and the elderly continue to celebrate more birthdays, the Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine Neuroscience Team, which includes Bryan R. Payne, MD, Professor and Chairman of the Department of Neuroscience of Marshall University School of Medicine; adult neurologist J. Terry Petrella, MD, MBA; together with Doctors Anthony Alberico, MD; and Toussaint LeClercq, MD, gear up to create a world-class comprehensive Neuroscience Center focusing on disorders of the brain and spine.
Strong recruitment efforts by Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine have brought these highly trained and sub-specialized physicians to the area. Their combined surgical, medical and research expertise will elevate the standard of patient care and treatment options throughout the region as well as the southeastern United States. As the department continues to expand, adding additional physicians and later developing a Neurology and Neurosurgery Residency Program, their reputation will grow among professionals and patients nationwide.
No doubt, most people worry about growing older. As we age, our brains change just like the rest of our bodies. Therefore, by identifying neurological disorders such as memory loss, spine degeneration, weakness, gait and movement difficulties – to name a few – in early stages, the Marshall University Neuroscience Team will positively influence patient outcome and help minimize the burden of aging.
Anyone experiencing significant neurological problems should see their primary care physician as soon as possible, and, if appropriate, be referred to a neurological specialist in a timely manner. Early diagnosis and intervention methods are improving dramatically, as treatment options and supportive resources can greatly improve quality of life. Early diagnosis and patient education also afford patients and families the opportunity to take active and necessary roles in making important life decisions.
To introduce themselves to the community and region, the Marshall University Neuroscience Team will be available in the Marshall University Medical Center atrium on Saturday, November 10, from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m., to discuss issues like “brain healthy foods,” preserving your memory techniques, as well as offering a brain health self assessment questionnaire. Breakfast and lunch will be served, along with fun and helpful bags of goodies that will be provided for all participants. As a resource initiative, members from the National Alzheimer’s Association, the American Parkinson Disease Association, and a representative from the Marshall Neurosurgery Group will also join in to provide a general screening for memory loss disorders, gait and tremor difficulties, as well as degenerative spine disorders, including spinal stenosis.
“Before the baby boomers lower the boom on the American health care system, we as health care professionals must redefine the future of patient education and individual responsibility and participation in wellness,” Dr. Petrella said. “In order to raise the standard of health care delivery systems, and patient outcome, each of us, including doctors, patients, and provider organizations, must partner together to shoulder the burden of an aging planet. The patient must return to the center of the team, as we all focus on educating individuals to make better choices for themselves and their families.
“When we place the patient in the foreground,” she continued, “we are all more successful in fighting and eventually preventing disease and its devastating effects. The bottom line is: Everyone must be accountable for their part in the big picture. The nervous system is who we are, and it defines our future. What is likely good for your heart, is also good for your head. We all need to learn how to “love our brain better.”
For further information about the November 10 screening, or to make a patient appointment, call the Marshall University Department of Neuroscience at 304-691-1787.
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