Memory Disorders Center
Comprehensive evaluations
A memory disorder, or memory loss, is a problem that some people have in storing or retrieving memories. It can be mild or severe and is often the result of a disease or injury that affects the brain. A neuropsychological evaluation is performed to help understand how the different areas and systems of the brain are working. Examinations are usually recommended when there are symptoms or complaints involving memory or other areas of thinking. Common among adult patients are progressive cognitive changes associated with Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis or following an acute event, such as traumatic brain injury or stroke.
A typical neuropsychological evaluation can involve assessment of the following:
- Academic skills
- Attention and concentration
- General intellect
- Higher level executive abilities (e.g., sequencing, reasoning, problem-solving)
- Language
- Learning and memory
- Mood and personality
- Motor and sensory abilities
- Visual-spatial abilities (e.g., perception)
The evaluation can be used to understand a patient’s situation in a number of ways:
- Differential diagnosis
- Documentation of change
- Establishment of a baseline
- Identification of cognitive difficulties
- Treatment planning
New Alzheimer’s medications are available
Lecanemab (Leqembi) and donanemab (Kisunla) are now FDA-approved to slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease in its early stages. Learn more to see if either is right for you.
Advancing Alzheimer’s disease research
The Litwin-Zucker Research Center is a state-of-the-art facility that conducts clinical research in Alzheimer’s disease. Established by the late Peter Davies, PhD, a luminary in Alzheimer’s disease research, the center sits within the Feinstein Institutes’ Institute of Molecular Medicine and focuses on discovering treatments for Alzheimer’s disease and the behavioral impairments that commonly accompany it.
Jeremy Koppel, MD, associate professor, co-directs the center with Philippe Marambaud, PhD, professor. Together, they work with their team of researchers and support staff to pursue cutting-edge translational research in the search for a cure for Alzheimer’s disease, and oversee the production and distribution of Dr. Davies’ gold-standard tau antibodies to the scientific community.
Ongoing studies include novel neurocognitive and neurobehavioral investigations, new applications of the advanced neuroimaging, identification of biomarkers of disease, and integration of precision medicine informed by genetics and genomics in treatment strategies. In addition, basic science research programs at the center promote discoveries that inform clinical research directions, with a focus on tau pathology and the molecular biology of tau proteins and antibodies, the inflammatory and vascular component of Alzheimer’s disease pathogenesis and the role of monoaminergic neurotransmission in disease pathophysiology and symptomatology.
Call (516) 562-3492 or email [email protected] to contact the Litwin-Zucker Research Center and learn more about current clinical trials. To view our clinical trials, click here and search Alzheimer. To learn more about our researchers, click here.
