Dr. Victor Blanco: “In the Memory Unit we not only treat memory problems, but also language or behavioral disorders”.
The Memory Unitincorporated in 2022 to the Neurology Service of the Ruber Internacional Hospital and formed by a multidisciplinary team of health professionals, treats mainly problems related to memory, but also other cognitive disorders such as difficulties in language, executive functions, conduct, behavior and reasoning.
This is explained by the head of this Unit, Dr. Víctor Blanco Palmero, who comments that the disease most frequently detected and treated in his offices is Alzheimer’s disease, the most frequent cause of cognitive deterioration, especially in patients over 65 years of age. In fact, it is believed that this pathology, as well as other neurodegenerative diseases, will increase its presence in the coming years.
“In general, the general population’s awareness of diseases such as Alzheimer’s has increased. However, there are memory problems that have traditionally been attributed to age and that are considered part of normal aging in which a neurodegenerative pathology underlies,” explains the doctor.
Therefore, early diagnosis of neurodegenerative diseases is essential to improve the quality of life of patients and their families. In this sense, in the Unit, after a detailed clinical history and a neurological examination, a neuropsychological study is performed in order to accurately characterize the problems and difficulties that the patient may present.
In addition, an imaging test is requested, usually an MRI, in order to assess the pattern of atrophy, the burden of cerebrovascular disease, and to rule out other possible causes of cognitive deterioration. “In some cases we complete the study with Nuclear Medicine tests, such as PET-FDG, which allows us to assess the metabolism of the different regions of the brain,” Dr. Blanco explains.
The Memory Unit also has the DaTSCAN functional neuroimaging technique for some patients with parkinsonism, as well as biomarkers in cerebrospinal fluid and PET-amyloid, which allow in vivo diagnosis of the existence of lesions compatible with Alzheimer’s disease.
Regarding treatment, the center has a comprehensive neurorehabilitation comprehensive neurorehabilitation program aimed at intervening in a multidisciplinary way (neuropsychology, speech therapy, sleep medicine, physiotherapy, occupational therapy or nutrition) on the patient’s needs.
“We carry out cognitive stimulation and rehabilitation sessions to enhance those cognitive aspects preserved and preserve as much as possible the patient’s functionality. In the case of language problems, there is the possibility of speech therapy sessions to facilitate communication options. We also elaborate physical activity guidelines together with the physiotherapists of the Unit; we advise on social needs; and we try to anticipate and inform about the foreseeable evolution of the disease. All this, without forgetting the pharmacological treatment of the disease and of any complications that may arise,” the doctor comments.
The Memory Unit of the Neurology Service of the Ruber Internacional Hospital also offers patients the possibility of participating in clinical trials on new treatments, which can help them to improve their disease and, therefore, their quality of life.
(Lucila Rodríguez, Madrid, April 2023)
