If you or your loved one is experiencing memory loss, confusion or problems with thinking or reasoning, you're not alone. For decades, our skilled experts at Sentara have helped individuals with cognitive disorders, including amnesia, mild cognitive impairment, Alzheimer's and dementia. As a core member of the Virginia Neurosciences Initiative (VNI), we collaborate with other health systems across Virginia. This extraordinary partnership allows us to advance research, improve treatments and share expertise with other specialists.
You can trust Sentara to provide comprehensive, compassionate care backed by the latest advances in neurological research. Working closely with patients, caregivers and loved ones, our specialists treat people with a wide range of cognitive disorders.
You'll find that Sentara memory and cognition program is set apart by:
- Advanced diagnostic tools
- Clinical trial participation
- Research
- Customized, comprehensive care plans
Dementia is a general term that describes a loss of mental functions severe enough to affect your daily life and activities.
Dementia is linked to several diseases and affects:
- The ability to focus and complete everyday tasks
- Language skills
- Memory
- Problem-solving
- Psychological health with potential personality changes
- Visual perception (your ability to make sense of what you see)
Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of dementia in older adults. In fact, Alzheimer's disease accounts for 60-80% of dementia cases. For the most part, Alzheimer's affects people 65 years or older. A small percentage of people can develop early-onset Alzheimer's.
The Alzheimer's Association lists 10 changes that can signal Alzheimer's:
- Memory loss that disrupts life
- Challenges in planning and problem-solving
- Trouble completing familiar tasks
- Confusion with time and place
- Trouble understanding visual and spatial relationships
- New problems coming up with words, speaking or writing
- Misplacing things and the inability to retrace steps
- Decreased or poor judgment
- Withdraw from work or social activities
- Changes in mood and personality
At Sentara and throughout the world, researchers are diligently working on treatments to slow the progression of Alzheimer's. Sentara participates in many of those clinical trials.
At Sentara and throughout the world, researchers are diligently working on treatments to slow the progression of Alzheimer's. Sentara participates in many of those clinical trials through the Sentara Health Research Center.
Our neurological clinical trials have included research on Alzheimer's medications, headache relief and Parkinson's disease symptom management. Giving patients access to cutting-edge trials that seek to improve neurological symptoms and conditions is an essential part of our mission. We know this is vital, not just for Sentara patients but for patients everywhere with neurological disorders.
Alzheimer's clinical study
Some Sentara clinicians and patients in Hampton Roads are still participating in the international clinical trial, Trailblazer, that studies the safety and effectiveness of the drug donanemab.