Caring for our Region
The Albany Med Health System offers the highest level care for patients with Alzheimer's disease and other dementias. This includes diagnosis, treatment options, and resources for patients and families.
Centers of Excellence
The New York State Department of Health named the Alzheimer's Center at Albany Medical Center a Center of Excellence for Alzheimer's Disease (CEAD), covering Albany, Columbia, Delaware, Fulton, Greene, Montgomery, Otsego, Saratoga, Schenectady, Schoharie, and Rensselaer Counties.
Glens Falls Hospital is also a designated Center of Excellence for Alzheimer's Disease covering the North Country. For more information, go to the Glens Falls Hospital Center of Excellence.
Albany Medical Center
As a Center of Excellence, we are a comprehensive resource for the health care community. We provide diagnostic and consultative services to primary care providers who send their patients to us. We offer assessment of patients, development of care plans, assistance with complex situations, and referrals to specialty care.
Dementia refers to a group of conditions where there is a progressive decline in memory and other brain functions. Dementia is not a disease; it is a symptom of an underlying brain disorder. There are many possible causes of dementia.
Conditions we treat include:
- Alzheimer's disease
- Frontotemporal dementia
- Lewy body dementia
- Parkinson's disease
- Vascular dementia
- Normal pressure hydrocephalus
- Wenicke-Korsakoff syndrome
- Huntington's disease
- Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease
- Primary care physicians can fax medical records, MRIs, CTs, and lab work to 518-264-0902.
- Indicate who we should contact to schedule a new patient appointment.
- Physicians can call referral coordinators at 518-264-0901.
- Patients and caregivers can call The Alzheimer's Center at 518-262-0800 to check if their information has been received.
New Patient Visit
- Please complete a patient information packet before your appointment. Call us at 518-262-0800 or email us at [email protected] to request a packet.
- The assessment of a new patient takes an hour-and-a-half.
- A caregiver or family member who knows the patient is encouraged to attend the appointment. They have an important role during the initial evaluation.
- Any tests that have been previously performed will be reviewed (blood tests, neuropsychological testing, CT, MRI, or PET scan).
Cognitive Testing
We use "paper and pencil" tests, oral questions, sensory, and other measures to assess memory, language, perceptions, and concentration.
History
Patients undergo a neurological exam. The team collects information about past and present symptoms. Caregivers can meet with the physician or staff separately to discuss their observations.
Results & Diagnosis
We will review our findings with patients and families. Additional testing may be necessary (brain imaging or further neuropsychological testing) and will be done separately.
To contact us, call 518-262-0800. You also can email us at [email protected].
It is the patient's responsibility to obtain a referral. We will work with you to obtain a referral. However, if your referral is not current at the time of your visit, you will be required to sign a waiver and will be responsible for the bill.
We see patients at two locations: Albany and Clifton Park. Information on both locations can be found in the Get Care section this page.
