Norton Neuroscience Institute Memory Center Dementia Prevention Clinic

If you have a parent or sibling with dementia, your risk for developing the disease is double that of others.

You can learn more about your risk for a memory disorder and find out ways to reduce your risk at the Norton Neuroscience Institute Memory Center Dementia Prevention Clinic.

Nearly 45% of dementia cases can be prevented or delayed by making healthy lifestyle choices.

The cause of memory disorders is still being researched, but we know there are some genetic factors and some factors you control. By addressing these risk factors, you may decrease your likelihood of developing dementia.

Research shows that those who have a parent or sibling with Alzheimer’s are more likely to develop the disease than those who do not have a first-degree relative with Alzheimer’s. Still, some develop the disease with no family history.

The Lancet Commission has identified 14 modifiable risk factors for dementia. These include:

Less education
Hearing loss
High LDL cholesterol
Depression
Traumatic brain injury
Physical inactivity
Diabetes

Smoking
Hypertension
Obesity
Excessive alcohol consumption
Social isolation
Air pollution
Vision loss

What to Expect at the Dementia Prevention Clinic

You will have a two-hour initial consultation with a member of our memory care team to review your personal history and lifestyle. This consultation will help us understand your dementia risk factors and any barriers to achieving optimal health through lifestyle changes. Your provider will perform a brief cognitive assessment during this visit. You will be asked to keep a diet and exercise log over the next four weeks. Lab work will be ordered if you have not had bloodwork within the past year.

Four weeks after your initial visit, you will have a 90-minute follow-up with your provider to discuss a tailored treatment plan focusing specifically on the risk factors that have been identified and ways to lower your dementia risk. During this visit, you also will meet with a dietitian, who will help you choose the best foods for you, based on your individual needs. Patients at the Dementia Prevention Clinic may meet with a variety of providers throughout their journey, including Kendall M. Wasz, PA-C. Kendall manages the clinic and specializes in memory care. She is passionate about dementia prevention, knowing firsthand the impact of this disease after her mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s.

Types of Memory Loss

Subjective cognitive impairment: A noticeable worsening of thinking abilities, including memory. However, the decline cannot be verified by standard memory tests.
Mild cognitive impairment: More memory or thinking problems than others of the same age. People with mild cognitive impairment can usually take care of themselves and carry out their normal daily activities.
Dementia: Progressive or persistent loss of intellectual functioning, especially with impairment of memory and abstract thinking. Personality changes are common with dementia. A result of organic disease of the brain, Alzheimer’s disease is a form of dementia.

Video Library

Hear from our memory care providers about how to create a healthy lifestyle, the differences between dementia and memory loss, and recent research about brain health.

Support for a portion of this digital education resource has been made possible by the Harold, Juanita, David, Dennis & Gary Koon Charitable Foundation through the Norton Healthcare Foundation.

Two Norton Neuroscience Institute Resource Centers provide free classes in person and online that promote brain health and offer patient support. To sign up, see below or call (502) 629-1234, option 4.

Care That’s Focused on You

It’s part of Norton Neuroscience Institute’s goal to care for the whole person, not just the condition.

Norton Neuroscience Institute Resource Centers offer ways to improve your access to care, provide valuable information on managing your disease and address your quality-of-life issues. The Norton Healthcare Foundation funds this important service, so patients don’t need to pay.
Dedicated patient navigators can help schedule follow-up appointments, coordinate prescription assistance, create customized diet plans and provide guidance on disability benefits, housing, financial and employment concerns, and more.
Patients can access support groups, exercise classes and other educational events to connect with others and learn how to make the most of life while managing a neurologic condition.
Access an on-demand video library of educational content across a variety of condition-related topics.
We want to help prevent illness. Get help quitting smoking and learn the signs of stroke.
Communicate with your provider, manage appointments, refill prescriptions and more anytime from a computer or mobile device with a free Norton MyChart account.

A Louisville Leader in Neurologic Care

More patients from Louisville and Southern Indiana seek their neurology and neurosurgery care from Norton Neuroscience Institute’s nationally recognized specialists than any other providers in the area.

Your Norton Neuroscience Institute medical provider has the expertise, experience, diagnostic tools and sophisticated treatments to provide care tailored to your needs.

More than 75 medical, surgical and research specialists are dedicated to providing innovative care to those with brain, spine and nervous system conditions.
Advanced, minimally invasive neurosurgery equipment can speed your recovery and minimize pain.
Multidisciplinary clinics provide easy access to care in one convenient appointment for your neurologic condition, with specialists in oncology, cardiology, orthopedics and behavioral health.
Norton Healthcare’s four adult-service hospitals in Louisville are certified by DNV, recognizing excellence and expertise in stroke care.
- Norton Brownsboro Hospital is recognized as a Comprehensive Stroke Center.
- Norton Audubon Hospital and Norton Hospital are Primary Stroke Centers.
- Norton Women’s & Children’s Hospital is an Acute Stroke Ready Hospital.
Norton Neuroscience Institute is at the forefront of neuroscientific research. As investigators on numerous trials, our physicians contribute to groundbreaking studies and publications in peer-reviewed journals. Also, patients may be eligible to take part in these experimental treatments. Learn more about current neuroscience clinical trials and studies.
The American Heart Association Get With the Guidelines stroke care program has recognized Norton Hospital and Norton Brownsboro Hospital in Louisville for exceeding national averages in getting patients in the door and administering lifesaving treatment to restore blood flow to the brain.
Norton Neuroscience Institute’s multiple sclerosis (MS) program has been designated a Center for Comprehensive MS Care by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.
The National Association of Epilepsy Centers has recognized Norton Neuroscience Institute Comprehensive Epilepsy Center as a Level 4 center, providing the highest level of medical and surgical evaluation and treatment for patients with complex epilepsy.
Norton Neuroscience Institute Resource Center navigators help educate patients and their families about new diagnoses, available treatments and ways to manage their disease.
We are listed by Becker’s Hospital Review as one of 100 great neurosurgery and spine programs.