Neurodegenerative Brain Diseases – Memory Department

The Neurodegenerative Brain Diseases Department specializes in the study, diagnosis and treatment of chronic neurodegenerative disorders. The most common among them are Dementia (Alzheimer’s Disease, Vascular Dementia, Frontotemporal Dementia etc) and Parkinson’s Disease.

Nowadays, these diseases are diagnosed more often and with greater accuracy, since there has been immense progress not only in the paraclinical investigation (imaging and laboratory) diagnostic methods, but also in the therapeutic possibilities available, as well.

The Neurodegenerative Brain Diseases Department hosts the Memory Clinic and the Parkinson’s Disease Clinic of the Hospital.

The standard diagnostic procedure comprises a basic neuropsychiatric evaluation: neurological examination, neuropsychological evaluation and assessment of the person’s current emotional state.

Depending on the individual, the following may also apply:

A. Paraclinical Investigation

Standard blood tests to rule out secondary dementias
Specialized blood tests (Alzheimer’s genes, ApO E4 allele etc)
Innovative Cerebrospinal Fluid testing (pathological proteins detection – Aβ amyloid, Tau protein, Phosphotau protein)
Anatomical (specific MRI protocols) or functional brain imaging (HMPAO SPECT, DAT scan and Positron Emission Tomography – PET scan)

B. Neuropsychological Evaluation
Standardized neuropsychological tests assessing memory and other cognitive functions

C. Follow-up
Following the diagnosis, special protocols of treatment and follow-up visits are applied
HYGEIA Hospital has both the technology and medical staff to carry out all the above mentioned clinical and paraclinical examinations which are necessary for the diagnosis of neurodegenerative diseases.

SERVICES PROVIDED:

Neurological examination
Psychiatric examination
Neuropsychological assessment (tests assessing memory and other cognitive abilities)
Lumbar puncture and cerebrospinal fluid testing to examine for the presence of specific proteins related to Alzheimer’s disease
Counselling sessions for family caregivers
Cognitive training programmes with pen and paper
Computerized cognitive training programmes – SOCIABLE

Sociable: Touch Screen Computerized Cognitive Training Rpogramme

SOCIABLE is an innovative, one-to-one cognitive training program carried out on a touch-screen computer. It aims to exercise and improve the cognitive abilities of the participants or at least, prevent further deterioration.
It comprises a variety of fun and creative games-exercises targeting memory, perception, attention, language, visuospatial abilities and orientation. It is aimed at people suffering from mild to moderate memory problems and/or other cognitive impairments.

For further information, please call 210 6867079 or book an appointment for a demonstration of SOCIABLE.

Clinical Trials for Alzheimer’s Drugs

Currently, no radical treatment has been established for Alzheimer’s disease. Pharmaceutical companies are conducting clinical trials worldwide to test new drugs, aiming at better control of both the symptoms and the underlying pathological processes causing the brain to degenerate. These substances have already shown good safety profile and efficacy in small clinical trials and are now tested in a wider population. The patients participating in clinical trials are volunteers, who, without any financial cost or benefit, are taking the study drug under close medical supervision. This practice is widely used in Western countries and has only recently been gaining ground in Greece. Any medication available in the market has successfully completed this procedure.

In our Clinic, we conduct studies testing new drugs with the approval of the National Organization for Medicines and the Scientific Board of the Hospital. The staff of the Memory Clinic has both the ability and the experience to identify suitable candidates, thoroughly inform them about the procedures involved and monitor the patients participating in the clinical trials.
The above mentioned services are provided both on an outpatient and inpatient basis.

The Neurodegenerative Brain Diseases Department cooperates closely with related community services and Alzheimer’s Associations (Athens Association of Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders) – www.alzheimerathens.gr), which play a vital role in the overall management of the disease by supporting the patients’ rights and providing education and support to their families.