The Brain Trust B Y
D E N N Y
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hen the brain goes wrong, the human body goes haywire. A single neuron misfiring or a blow to the head can change the way we think, turn simple emotions into a frightening funhouse mirror or slowly steal away our humanity. Brain disorders are costly, they take away people’s jobs and destroy families. Each year, head injuries devastate the health of 600 people out of each 100,000 in the United States. Stroke and spinal disorders also affect tens of thousands every year. The Methodist Neurological Institute is one of only four centers in the United States dedicated solely to exploring the mysterious, myriad channels of the brain and its disorders. Established in 2004, this center is dedicated to finding the most effective treatments for Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and multiple sclerosis. Doctors and researchers at the institute are seeking genetic solutions for malignant brain tumors and pioneering new treatments for cerebral aneurysms and stroke. As the brain guides the body, two internationally acclaimed physicians with more than a half century of experience between them guide the Neurological Institute as it explores the most puzzling of human organs. Dr. Robert Grossman and Dr. Stanley Appel share leadership of this important organization, working to guide scientific discovery and usher new therapies into reality. They — and their colleagues in the Neurological Institute — are the Methodist brain trust.
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VOLUME 4, NUMBER 4 䡲 13
