Behavioral Neurology

WHAT IS BEHAVIORAL NEUROLOGY?

Behavioral Neurology is a rare sub-specialty where highly specialized Neurologists study problems occurring in brain matter (or due to brain injuries) that cause changes in human behavior or comportment.

 

Experts like Dr. Anton Coleman see cases where brain abnormalities can alter how one pays attention to the left side of their environment, or bring out inappropriate social behavior or a lack of behavior. Progressive memory disorders and language dysfuntion occur frequently [like those seen in Alzheimer’s disease, fronto-temporal lobe degeneration (FTLD) and vascular dementias]. In addition, the inability to recognize commonly used objects, language disorders for words as well as language disorders for body language are common topics in dementia that are an integral part of behavioral neurology. Strokes also cause these same disorders usually as non-progressive syndromes.

 

There are some lesions that even cause psychiatric syndromes including hallucinations of any or many of the senses! Mood disorders, psychotic conditions and other psychiatric syndromes related to epilepsy, brain tumors and inflammatory disorders are actually quite common.

 

Last but not least, there are many types of dementias (e.g. Alzheimer's disease, FTLD, Lewy body dementia, Parkinson's disease dementia, multi-infarct dementia, infectious dementias, genetic dementias), there are the rare dementias, but also there are “pseudo-dementias” which are due to treatable causes, that can be reversed if addressed in a timely fashion.