Welcome to The Brain and Behavior Clinic

A traumatic brain injury occurs when the brain is subjected to trauma—whether struck by an object, pierced by an object, or shaken. Often incurred during car accidents or headfirst falls, TBIs can be categorized into three types—mild, moderate, and severe. Moderate and severe TBIs are often marked by prolonged loss of consciousness and bleeding in the brain, while mild TBIs—most commonly referred to as concussions—are typically characterized by a brief period of loss of consciousness, confusion, feeling dazed, and/or slowed processing.

While these symptoms usually resolve within a day or two, sometimes thinking problems persist, resulting in what is called Post Concussion Syndrome.

Post-concussion syndrome refers to a constellation of symptoms that arise and persist after a concussion has been sustained. Though the damage incurred from a concussion is often thought to be fairly benign, and is typically not observable on CT or MRI, if prolonged it can cause significant problems in multiple aspects of a person’s life. Post Concussion Syndrome is characterized by physical, emotional, and cognitive (thinking) problems, which all interact with each other, resulting in an overall worsening of a person’s ability to function in their life.

Post-concussion syndrome looks different for everyone, but common symptoms include memory impairment, attention and concentration problems, slowed processing, emotional or cognitive overwhelm, lack of motivation, depression, anxiety, headaches, and fatigue. If you’re experiencing any of these or other recent changes to your physical; cognitive; or behavioral health, a treatment consultation may help you find answers and lead you to a path of recovery.

At the Brain and Behavior Clinic, treatment begins with a thorough evaluation to determine the extent of any cognitive compromise you may have experienced. An individualized treatment program, involving a combination of cognitive rehabilitation, trauma counseling, and possibly medications to improve sleep and processing speed is prescribed and administered. Typically, patients recover and return to optimal brain function within three to six months.

Specializing in the relationship between the physical brain and behavior, a neuropsychologist conducts an assessment of the brain using various paper/pencil and computerized tests to measure how it is functioning. Neuropsychologists are trained in both neurology (the “hardware” of the brain) and psychology (the “software” or programming of the brain) because a brain injury (like a concussion) or disease process (like Alzheimer’s) can affect both areas. They typically start with a comprehensive interview, administer the test measures, and then give clear feedback to the person about their findings. Recommendations can include brain exercises, life-style changes, cognitive rehabilitation, medications, and counseling from a brain specialist.

Neuropsychological testing is an evaluation of organic brain function compared to a person’s same age, gender, and educational level peer group. Typically, an evaluation begins with an interview to ascertain the patient’s ability to perform daily tasks, identify memory issues and mental health concerns, and acquire basic medical information. Next, a series of paper and computer tests is administered to measure relative memory and cognitive ability, identify personality traits, and assess emotional wellbeing.

If you feel that you are falling behind cognitively, processing more slowly than you used to, or are simply not feeling like yourself, your brain health is not at its optimum, and your cognitive function is likely suffering as a result. If you’ve been experiencing persistent anxiety or depression, the resulting stress to the brain may be causing subtle cognitive decline, as well. If you’re unsure of your brain’s health status, we can help you determine deficiencies and achieve the optimal function your brain is capable of.

Alzheimer’s disease is preceded by early dementia stages—Subjective Cognitive Impairment (SCI) and Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI). SCI refers to self-identified cognitive changes that can’t be perceived by other people; and MCI refers to cognitive changes that can be perceived by other people but that only mildly impact one’s functionality. Both SCI and MCI may be early signs of Alzheimer’s disease, but not necessarily. A competent neuropsychological evaluation can clarify the diagnosis and provide critical information leading to appropriate treatment to arrest or potentially slow the disease process.

If Alzheimer’s disease has been in your family, you may be at a heightened risk. However, the risk is alterable, and you can take preventative action. Beyond genetic predisposition, there are a number of holistic health factors that can contribute to cognitive decline—all of which can be addressed and altered. Dr. Dale Bredesen—internationally recognized pioneer in neurological research and founder of the The Bredesen Protocol—has discovered 36 factors that can contribute to cognitive decline, including nutritional status, metabolic functioning, sleep habits, and stress management. When identified and addressed early on, related risk factors can be reduced in prevention of Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative diseases.

Effective treatment of the brain relies on a functional approach to the health of the whole person. That’s why we employ a wide range of therapies when addressing brain health—whether treating a traumatic brain injury, reversing age-related cognitive decline, or slowing the progression Alzheimer’s disease. While treatment looks different for every individual, it can involve any combination of nutritional, cognitive, behavioral, psychological, medicines and/or supplements or other occupational therapies.

As we age, it is common to have some forgetfulness, but it’s important to understand the type of memory problems youre experiencing. We also develop cognitive skills as we age. According to the model that we work within, we do not believe that cognitive deterioration is part of normal aging. Cognitive changes are a normal part of aging but dementia is not.

There are categories of changes in memory and cognition. SCI refers to Subjective Cognitive Impairment, when someone notices that they have a change in their thinking, but people around them might not notice anything. MCI, or Mild Cognitive Impairment refers to mild or minimal experiences of cognitive change, which may or may not be detectable on neuropsychological tests. There’s evidence that people who do have mild cognitive impairment on testing have a greater likelihood of converting into a dementia than those who do not have MCI. That is one of the reasons why it is so important to get neuropsychological testing early if you suspect you have cognitive changes. Our clinic offers brief online cognitive screening assessments, and in-depth in-office neuropsychological. assessments that can vary from 1 hour to six hours, depending upon what your complaints are.