Memory Disorders

Memory loss can be scary and overwhelming for anyone experiencing it.

Plus, it can be difficult to know when these symptoms of memory loss are just a normal part of aging and when it’s time to seek professional help.

Here, at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, we can help you and your family understand what may be happening and serve as a partner in navigating these challenges.

Established in 1993, the Memory Disorders Clinic at the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center is one of the region’s most comprehensive centers for research, evaluation, diagnosis and treatment for people affected by dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.

We’ve been at the forefront of understanding and battling these troublesome conditions for decades.

In fact, the cognitive test used across the globe to identify potential memory disorders was developed by experts at Ohio State Wexner Medical Center. It’s called the Self-Administered Gerocognitive Exam, or SAGE test.

Download our SAGE test

Where you go for care for memory disorders matters and the expertise we have in these conditions is unmatched in Columbus, Ohio and throughout the Midwest region. We have access to resources to treat a wide range of memory disorders.

What are memory disorders?

Memory disorders happen when certain parts of the brain become damaged and this damage prevents or reduces the brain’s ability to store or retain memories.

While these conditions impact one’s memory and recall skills, they can also affect other cognitive areas, such as behavior, language, problem-solving and even, coordination and balance.

Mild cognitive impairment is an early stage of memory and cognitive loss that results in memory and thinking problems beyond the typical decline everyone experiences as we get older.

Dementia is not a specific disease but an umbrella term for a group of symptoms that affect memory, thinking and social abilities to a point where you can’t do normal activities on your own.

Alzheimer’s disease, which is caused by the abnormal buildup of certain proteins inside and outside of brain cells, is the most common form of dementia. There are more than 6.5 million Americans living with Alzheimer’s.

Other types of memory disorders include:

• Vascular dementia
• Dementia with Lewy bodies
• Frontotemporal dementia
• Normal pressure hydrocephalus
• HIV dementia
• Amnesia
• Mild cognitive impairment
• Drug- or infection-related dementia

Some of these memory disorders have cures while many don’t.

Expert researchers and memory doctors at Ohio State Wexner Medical Center work diligently every day to lessen the impacts of these diseases for people and their families and to find a cure for them.

Why choose Ohio State’s memory disorder clinic for your treatment?

Our health care providers excel in every facet of memory disorder care from early diagnosis and treatment to caregiving and research.

You’ll be in good hands at Ohio State because:

• We developed the SAGE test, which detects signs of cognitive, memory and thinking impairments, allowing us to be at the forefront of early detection.
• We utilize all members of our memory disorders team – cognitive neurologists, neuropsychiatrists, nurses, social workers, pharmacists, psychometricians and research coordinators – to create an individualized treatment plan for you.
• We offer the latest treatments available and often lead the way for new advancements in medical interventions. For example, we placed the first deep brain stimulation implant in an Alzheimer's disease patient in the United States.
• We treat all aspects of the disorder and have training in neuropsychiatry that allows us to improve a family’s quality of life through skillful management of behaviors, such as depression, restlessness, false beliefs, mood changes and sleep disruptions.
• We conduct more research and clinical trials on Alzheimer’s disease and dementia than any other medical center in Ohio, giving you more immediate access to the most promising treatments and diagnostic techniques, often long before they are available to the public.