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 CEAD
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.
- Find out more about Education & Support we offer.
- Find out more about Alzheimer's Research through Albany Medical College.
- Find out more about our Generations Together program that pairs medical students with Alzheimer's patients.
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 that can cause dementia include:
- Alzheimer's disease
- Frontotemporal dementia
- Lewy body dementia
- Parkinson's disease
- Wenicke-Korsakoff syndrome
- Huntington's disease
- Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease
While there is no cure yet for Alzheimer's disease and most types of dementia, treatments are available that can help people cope with symptoms and improve their quality of life, and even possibly change the progression of the disease.
Promising new treatments have emerged in recent years, and Albany Medical Center and other institutions are conducting research and clinical trials in the search for a cure. One such treatment, Lecanemab, is now available to eligible patients at Albany Medical Center.
The Alzheimer's Association has in-depth information on treatment options for people with Alzheimer's.
The Alzheimer's Association has listed ten early warning signs of Alzheimer's disease and dementia. They encourage you to contact your physician if you notice any of these signs:
- Memory loss that disrupts daily life
- Challenges in planning or solving problems
- Difficulty completing familiar tasks
- Confusion with time or place
- Trouble understanding visual images or spatial relationships
- New problems with words in speaking or writing
- Misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace steps
- Decreased or poor judgment
- Withdrawal from work or social activities
- Changes in mood and personality
(Source: Alzheimer's Association)
The Alzheimer's Association has more information on each of these symptoms and what to do if you are concerned.
If your primary care physician suspects Alzheimer's disease or another dementia, they can make a referral to our center.
Appointments require a referral from a primary care provider. Please request that your primary care provider include the best person and contact number to call. After the referral is received, our office will reach out to schedule an appointment. Primary care physicians can fax medical records, MRIs, CTs, and lab work to 518-264-0902.
Next steps:
- 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.
- It is the patient's responsibility to obtain a referral. We will work with you to obtain one, 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 consider it a privilege to be involved in your health care or the health care of your loved one. Here is some helpful advice for your first appointment with us:
- Please complete a patient information packet before your appointment. Call us at 518-262-0800 or email [email protected] to request a packet.
- The assessment of a new patient takes one 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).
Your Care Team
CEAD health care providers are neurology and geriatric physicians and advanced practice providers (NP/PA) who see patients on their first visit and/or their subsequent follow-up visits in the dementia clinic. They provide diagnostic assessment, treatment, and care plan development for patients with cognitive impairment. The providers also conduct comprehensive evaluations to identify patients eligible for monoclonal antibody treatments according to the established inclusion criteria.
Our case managers are instrumental in helping patients and their loved ones navigate the landscape of medical and social services for individuals with dementia. They see patients on their first visit along with the health care providers to conduct a needs assessment and provide education to patients about dementia. They also offer comprehensive support to caregivers and link the family to community resources, tailoring their approach to each patient’s individual needs and circumstances.
Our registered nurses play an important role in clinical care management and coordination. They assist medical providers with clinical assessments and medication management. They also provide education to patients about dementia and the monoclonal antibody treatment available in the center.
Clinical research coordinators manage clinical trials in the center including selecting trial participants according to the specific criteria and coordinating the overall operation of the clinical studies.
Cognitive Testing
We use "paper and pencil" tests, oral questions, sensory, and other measures to assess memory, language, perceptions, and concentration.
Medical 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.
Contact Us
518-262-0800
[email protected]
We see patients at two locations: Albany and Clifton Park. Information on both locations can be found in Locations in this section.