Patients who experience neurological challenges are faced with an array of complex decisions concerning their care and treatment. The care and support required extend far beyond the needs of the patient because, with neurological disorders, family members and loved ones also experience changes that impact their daily lives. UofL Physicians - Neurology comprises highly trained neurologists in Louisville who specialize in conditions that negatively affect the brain and nervous system as a result of injury or disease.
The UofL Physicians – Neurology clinical subspecialties include: general neurology, stroke, epilepsy, movement disorders, neurodegenerative diseases, neuromuscular disease, clinical neurophysiology, headache and sleep disorders. Our providers also provide care for multiple sclerosis patients at UofL Health - UofL Hospital – Multiple Sclerosis Clinic.
UofL Physicians – Neurology’s multidisciplinary staff of more than 30 clinical faculty and over 35 department members strives to provide patient-focused, world-class medical care for the entire spectrum of neurological diseases. As researchers and faculty at the University of Louisville School of Medicine, we have a passion and commitment to developing new treatments and cures for neurologic diseases. Our clinical research in stroke and multiple sclerosis are among the fastest-growing programs in the country, enrolling patients in important clinical trials with potentially life-saving treatments. Our research in movement disorders, particularly in progressive supranuclear palsy and Parkinson’s disease, is internationally recognized as the leading work in this subspecialty of neurology. The programs at UofL Physicians – Neurology involve a worldwide interdisciplinary network of collaboration aimed at developing preventive and corrective treatments for neurological disorders.
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Diseases & Conditions
- Alzheimer’s disease, dementia and memory loss
- Ataxia is a lack of muscle coordination during voluntary movements, such as walking or picking up objects. A sign of an underlying condition, ataxia can affect movement, speech, eye movement and the ability to swallow.
- Brain and spinal cord tumors
- Epilepsy and seizures, including Psychogenic Nonepileptic Seizures (PNES)
- Headaches
- Movement Disorders are a group of diseases and syndromes affecting the ability to produce and control movement, such as Parkinson’s Disease.
- Neuromuscular disorders, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (Lou Gehrig’s disease), muscular dystrophy, myopathies, myasthenia gravis and post-polio syndrome.
- Peripheral neuropathy, a result of nerve damage, often causes numbness and pain in the hands and feet. People typically describe the pain of peripheral neuropathy as tingling or burning, while they may compare the loss of sensation to the feeling of wearing a thin stocking or glove.
- Sleep disorders, including narcolepsy, SIDS and sleep apnea
- Stroke and cerebrovascular disorders
Our UofL Physicians - Neurology providers also provide care for multiple sclerosis patients at UofL Health - UofL Hospital – Multiple Sclerosis Clinic. Learn more about this clinic.
Treatments & Services
Alzheimer’s, Dementia, Cognitive/Geriatric Neurology
Correct diagnosis of neurologic disorders in older adults can be difficult because signs of disease may mimic normal signs of aging. Also, patients frequently have more than one neurologic problem at once. It can be challenging to find the best treatment once such a problem has been diagnosed.
The team of dementia professionals at the UofL Physicians – Neurology practice is led by Dr. Robert Friedland, a nationally and internationally recognized expert, researcher and physician committed to identifying groundbreaking treatments that address the clinical and biological issues associated with Alzheimer’s and related diseases.
The practice performs an initial comprehensive evaluation, which includes a detailed history and mental status examination; standardized cognitive, functional and depression testing; pertinent neurological and physical examination; laboratory testing; neuroimaging; and referral for neuropsychological testing and for consultation by other team members as necessary. The team identifies risk factors for future cognitive decline and protective factors that may slow future cognitive decline.
Patients then receive a holistic individualized treatment plan, which aims to reduce the impact of risk factors while promoting protective factors along with neuroprotective and cognition-enhancing drugs and supplements. To learn more about our Alzheimer’s Center, visit their webpage.
Epilepsy
Epilepsy is diagnosed in 125,000 Americans each year. Finding the experts required to address the condition can be frustrating. With epilepsy, the normal pattern of neuronal activity becomes disturbed, causing strange sensations, emotions and behavior or sometimes convulsions, muscle spasms and loss of consciousness.
Even mild seizures may require treatment because they can be dangerous during activities such as driving or swimming. Treatment — which generally includes medications and sometimes surgery — usually eliminates or reduces the frequency and intensity of seizures. Many children with epilepsy even outgrow the condition.
The UofL Physicians – Epilepsy Center provides comprehensive diagnosis and management for people with epilepsy. Our team of specialists includes epileptologists, epilepsy fellows, neurosurgeons, neuroradiologists, nurses and EEG technologists committed to providing the best possible care for people with epilepsy, including Psychogenic Nonepileptic Seizures (PNES). We treat the entire person taking into consideration age, health and lifestyle to address a treatment that is the most effective for the patient. Education is the key to treating this condition, and our experts invest the time required to assist the patient and their families to fully understand the recommended treatment.
List of Services:
- Precise diagnosis of epilepsy syndromes and seizure types
- Expert EEG interpretation
- In-patient epilepsy monitoring
- Expert medication management (over 15 available)
- Epilepsy surgery
- Vagus nerve stimulation
- Investigational treatments
Learn more about the UofL Physicians Epilepsy Center
Headache
Headaches can range from minor headaches that last a few minutes to intense migraines that may be debilitating. The UofLPhysicians – Comprehensive Headache Program promotes excellence in patient care to individuals with headaches and facial pain throughout the Kentuckiana region. To learn more, click here.
Movement Disorders
UofL Physicians – Parkinson’s Disease & Movement Disorders, in partnership with UofL Health – Frazier Rehab Institute, provides state-of-the-art, comprehensive care to patients and families with movement disorders.
For more information, visit the UofL Physicians – Parkinson’s Disease & Movement Disorders page or the Find Neurologists in Louisville.
Neuromuscular
The UofL Physicians – Neuromuscular Program provides a full complement of services ranging from clinical assessment, laboratory testing and electrodiagnosis to biopsy and histology of nerve and muscle. Currently, several clinical trials are in place for the investigation of new and novel therapies of nerve, muscle and neuromuscular junction disorders.
List of services:
- Clinical assessment of disorders of nerve, muscle and neuromuscular junction.
- Electrodiagnosis of neuromuscular disorders including electromyography, nerve conduction studies (NCV), single fiber EMG, autonomic testing.
- On-site biopsy of nerve and muscle.
- Preparation and pathological evaluation of nerve and muscle specimens.
Stroke
When it comes to minimizing the effects of stroke, immediate care is vital. The UofL Physicians neurologists provide care at stroke centers at UofL Health – UofL Hospital, UofL Health – Jewish Hospital and UofL Health – Mary & Elizabeth Hospital to make sure stroke patients receive rapid, comprehensive care. They also lead the UofL Health – Comprehensive Stroke Program ensuring consistent care is provided to stroke patients across the UofL Health system. The centers offer in-house stroke teams available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Combining technology, therapy and treatment, patients receive the most comprehensive care in the region. Examination, laboratory studies, cardiac tests, and state-of-the-art imaging studies can be performed within minutes of a patient’s arrival in the Emergency Care Center. A full range of medical and rehabilitation services is instantly available, from a team that includes neurologists, critical care physicians, interventional neuroradiologists, neurosurgeons, and cardiologists as well as nutritionists, physical therapists, speech-language pathologists, diabetic coordinators, and stroke nurses.
To find out more about the UofL Physicians – Stroke programs, please visit UofL Health - UofL Hospital - Comprehensive Stroke Center.
