The Center for Brain Health
A multidisciplinary approach to care and research will soon be under one roof
The new Center for Brain Health will feature an imaging suite equipped with a 7-Tesla magnet scanner and dedicated clinical spaces for treatment and rehabilitation.
Opening in 2025, the Center for Brain Health at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio will be home to the institution’s many brain health initiatives to serve the growing need for neurological care in the region.
The new facility will house the health science center’s Glenn Biggs Institute for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases, which, in partnership with The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, is currently the only National Institute on Aging-designated Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center in Texas serving patients with conditions that include dementia.
The center will also become home to the university’s Department of Neurology, which researches and cares for patients living with neurological diseases including Parkinson’s disease and other movement disorders, stroke, Lou Gehrig’s disease, muscular dystrophy, peripheral neuropathy, headache, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy and more.
By uniting neurology specialists of all disciplines under one roof, the Center for Brain Health will serve as a comprehensive hub for brain research, fostering collaboration and making discoveries about the brain health issues prevalent in the community. Currently 55 clinical trials and 265 non-interventional cohort studies are underway by investigators.
“This is where patients receive their diagnosis, get genetic testing, engage with support groups. It’s where they receive disease treatment and rehabilitation or therapies such as physical and occupational therapy — all delivered with the highest level of care,” said Sudha Seshadri, MD, director of the Biggs Institute.
At the center, patients and their caregivers will benefit from a collaborative approach involving specialists in speech therapy, physical therapy, occupational therapy, psychological counseling and psychiatric advice and coordination with a patient’s primary care and non-neurology specialists.
“The Center for Brain Health provides a ‘one stop shop’ for patients with complex neurologic conditions, where they can get all the services they require in a multidisciplinary clinic in a single morning or afternoon,” said Carlayne Jackson, MD, FAAN, chair of the Department of Neurology. This comprehensive approach ensures that while the new center will streamline access to specialized care, it will also emphasize a broader commitment to supporting the total well-being of patients.
“We focus on holistic care, not only diagnosing and prescribing medications, but also partnering with patients and caregivers to support their function and enhance their quality of life,” Seshadri said. In alignment with this integrated approach, Seshadri emphasized the importance of having a team of multilingual providers to serve the diverse patient population of San Antonio and South Texas and to support the needs of families and caregivers.
“We are committed to reaching out to and representing our underserved and minority communities, ensuring they receive culturally competent care from providers who understand their language and cultural backgrounds,” she said.
The Center for Brain Health will also expand training programs related to brain health, ensuring the future of neurological care in the community.
