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Brain Health and Cognitive Disorders Program
Do I have Alzheimer’s disease or dementia? Does my mom have a memory disorder after her stroke or brain injury? Does my child have an attention or learning problem? If so, then what can be done about it?
Those are some of the most frequent questions asked of us in the Cognitive Disorders Program at Ochsner. We strive to provide comprehensive and tailored assessments for accurate diagnoses and helpful treatment plans.
Our Program
The Brain Health and Cognitive Disorders program understands that for most patients their cognitive problem is far from simple. This is why each patient undergoes a thorough work up that can include a neurological evaluation, neuropsychological testing, labs, imaging, and other diagnostic tests. This comprehensive and detailed approach allows for better answers and more tailored treatment recommendations. Additionally, our large health system collaborates with a wide range of disciplines ensuring optimal management of each patient’s cognitive concern.
Why Ochsner for Cognitive Disorders?
- Highly Trained Specialists: The team consists of board certified and board eligible neuropsychologists, board certified neurologists, nurse practitioners, psychometrists, and other allied health professionals. Meet our team.
- Comprehensive and Interdisciplinary Approach: With cognitive concerns, it is important to have an exhaustive and detailed assessment to understand why the problem is occurring. Knowing why, helps us then know how to best treat the problem. Ochsner has multiple specialties that can provide the best treatment for your cognitive or memory impairment.
- For instance, did you know that adequately treating depression, poor sleep, or vascular problems may help improve your problems with memory? Our assessment can help figure out what works best for you!
- A Focus on Brain Health: We know from decades of research that healthy living make for a healthier brain. With a generous gift, we are embarking on an innovative program to help patients engage in healthier lifestyle choices to hopefully reduce their risk for cognitive decline.
Areas of Expertise
Pediatric:
Learning Disorders
- ADHD
- Developmental and Intellectual Disorders,
- Cognitive problems due to neurologic illnesses (e.g., seizures, Multiple Sclerosis (MS), Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), tumors, or stroke)
Adult/Geriatric:
- General memory loss and age-related cognitive decline
- Early and late onset Alzheimer’s Disease
- Vascular dementia
- Fronto-temporal Dementias (Behavior-variant and Language-variants)
- Lewy Body Dementia
- Parkinson’s Disease, Dementia and candidacy for Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS)
- Rarer dementia syndromes
- Cognitive problems following a stroke, TBI, MS, seizures, or other neurologic illnesses
- Cognitive problems due to depression, poor sleep, or other concerns
- Decision-making capacity
- Fitness for Duty assessment, if cognitive impairment is identified at work
Cognitive Disorders
Memory Assessment Program
Once referred by your physician, the following happens:
- Medical Evaluation to rule out common reversible causes of cognitive dysfunction
- Neurologic and Physical Exam
- Labs
- Possible referral for imaging
- Neuropsychological Evaluation
- Comprehensive history and clinical interview
- Detailed neuropsychological testing (1 to 3 hours)
- Detailed report and treatment plan
- Multi-disciplinary Memory Clinic
- Feedback regarding diagnosis and cause for cognitive problems
- Treatment plan discussion
- Possible medication management
- Possible meeting with social worker for any planning or family needs
- Possible meeting with allied health professionals (e.g., referral for a driving evaluation)
- Ongoing follow-up to track cognitive functioning over time and response to intervention along with family support
Outpatient Neuropsychological Assessment
Once referred by your neurologist or other physician, we conduct a detailed assessment to understand your cognitive functioning, causes for cognitive or memory difficulties, and design a treatment plan with strategies to manage your cognitive symptoms.
Brain Health
This is an innovative initiative designed to help prevent or reduce one’s risk of cognitive decline. The initiative consists of a series of seminars or “talks” designed to help individuals learn about risk factors (e.g., poor diet, stress) to cause cognitive problems and engage in activities that promote long term brain health.
Talk with your doctor about how you can participate in this program.
Care Management Program for Patients with Dementia and their Caregivers: The Care Ecosystem
About
The Care Ecosystem was designed to help address the unmet needs of persons with dementia and their caregivers. The goals of the program include improving quality of life, preventing unnecessary hospitalizations, and delaying admissions to long-term care institutions.
What we provide
- Caregiver support
- Community-based resources and referrals
- Assistance navigating insurance benefits or applications
- Advanced care planning: Power and attorney & living will
- Advanced care planning: Financial planning and long term care
- Medication support
- Safety Assessment
- Behavior Management
- Medical decision assistance
Who’s eligible
- Has memory problems with associated diagnosis
- Has a caregiver
- Lives in the community (not nursing home or assisted living)
- Age >=55
Current program is free of charge and participants will receive a $25 gift card for select visits. Participation is optional.
Meet the Team
Amanda Bailey, Care Team Navigator; Amanda.bailey@ochsner.org
Ashley LaRoche, CCRC. Supervisor and Care Team Navigator; Ashley.laroche@ochsner.org
John Sawyer, PhD. Principal Investigator, Neuropsychologist
Brian Mizuki, PsyD. Co-Investigator, Neuropsychologist
Beth Arredondo, PhD. Co-Investigator, Neuropsychologist
Britta Staubes, PharmD. Ochsner Clinical Pharmacist
Colleen Knoop, APRN. Advanced Practice Nurse Practitioner in Neurology
Local Resources
- Alzheimer’s Association local chapter
- Local Support Groups
- Veteran’s Benefits for Dementia Patients in Louisiana
- ProBono Legal Help New Orleans: Power of Attorney and Living Will assistance
- New Orleans Senior Resource Guide: Community resources, health at home services, day programs, housing, & legal resources.
Contact us
- Email: brainhealth@ochsner.org
- Phone: 504-703-0755
Adapted from the Care Ecosystem. For more resources and information, go to UCSF: CARE Ecosystem.
For Referring Physicians
To refer a patient:
Call the Clinic Concierge at 504-842-7436 or 1-855-312-4190
- The Clinic Concierge assists with getting copies of patient records and scheduling clinic appointments.
- The Clinic Concierge team can also capture your preference for receiving post visit follow-up from the patient's appointment.
Referral information can be faxed to: 504-842-0130
