The clinical arm of the Penn State Hershey Memory and Cognitive Disorders Program evaluates and treats people with disorders of cognition. These disorders often affect memory, but can also cause problems with talking, navigating our world or regulating behavior. Many disorders of the brain such as traumatic brain injury, stroke, multiple sclerosis, and Parkinson’s disease can affect cognition, but some disorders primarily affect cognition. These include Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia, dementia with Lewy bodies and frontotemporal dementia. In addition, there are normal changes of cognition with aging and stages of mild abnormal cognitive dysfunction such as mild cognitive impairment. Our specialists are experts in diagnosing and treating all of these conditions.

We have several venues where we see our patients:

Penn State Hershey Memory and Cognitive Disorders Clinic
Neuropsychology Clinic

Dr. Gill will also schedule selected patients outside of the Memory and Cognitive Disorders Clinic if the patient and Dr. Gill feel this is appropriate. 

Penn State Hershey Memory and Cognitive Disorders Clinic  Brochure

The Memory and Cognitive Disorders Clinic provides a comprehensive, multidisciplinary evaluation of people with concerns about their memory and thinking in an expert and caring atmosphere. We believe that a multidisciplinary and comprehensive evaluation is necessary for appropriate diagnosis. The purpose of this comprehensive evaluation is to determine the cause or causes of the patient's symptoms and to recommend treatment.

What to expect:

As part of a visit to our clinic, a patient will be seen by a cognitive and behavioral neurologist and a neuropsychologist. Depending on staffing, we may also have the patient see a social worker or nurse specialist as part of the day. The patient may have laboratory testing and/or brain imaging during their visit. This extensive initial evaluation accomplishes in one day what may take two or three visits outside of a comprehensive clinic.

The person being seen must be accompanied by someone familiar with them and their memory concerns. In addition, the patient should bring, or have the patient’s doctor send, records of any prior evaluation for memory problems including the actual films (or CD-ROM containing the images) of any prior brain imaging.  You can come prepared for clinic by completing this Neurology-New Patient Questionnaire and bringing it with you.

If we feel that further testing is needed, the patient may need to return on a separate day for a brain scan, blood work and/or follow up memory testing. After the initial evaluation and follow up testing, the clinicians involved will discuss all the information about each patient at our Consensus Conference. Following this conference, the clinicians discuss their findings with the patient and the family at a return visit to our clinic where diagnosis, recommendations and treatment options are discussed.

During a patient’s visit with us, he or she may have medical students and residents participate in their care. We also have ongoing research programs in which the patient may be invited to participate. No one will ever be required to participate in any research and a patient’s care will not be affected by this decision.

Patients should arrive 30 minutes early for their first appointment. If the patient is unable to arrive within 20 minutes of the appointment time we may not be able to see the person the same day.

Follow-up visits: 

Patients are seen on average between every 6 to 12 months in Dr. Gill’s clinic. The follow up visits will alternate between Dr. Gill and our Physician’s Assistant, Jacqueline Rohrbaugh. Some patients will have follow up visits with our neuropsychologists and/or social worker. After each visit, a written report is sent to the primary care physician and/or referring physician.

David Gill, M.D.

Dr. Gill is Assistant Professor of Neurology at Penn State Hershey. Dr. Gill is the clinical director of the Penn State Hershey Memory and Cognitive Disorders Program. Dr. Gill is a fellowship trained cognitive and behavioral neurologist. His interests include distinguishing normal changes in cognition from those caused by disease along with identifying ways to maintain brain health and identifying how parkinsonian disorders affect cognition. Dr. Gill is an investigator on the Memory and Aging study, the Neuroimaging study on function-structure relationship of the olfactory deficit in Alzheimer’s disease, and the Validating the Montreal Cognitive Assessment for the Diagnosis of Mild Cognitive Impairment in Parkinson’s Disease study. Dr. Gill has numerous publications on memory and aging topics. He has been featured on WITF TV and radio shows about Alzheimer’s disease.

Claire Flaherty-Craig, Ph.D. 

Dr. Flaherty-Craig pursues research interests in neurodevelopmental disorders among pediatric cancer survivors, pediatric and adult epilepsy, pediatric and adult trauma patients and dementia in association with neurodegenerative disorders including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (Lou Gehrig's Disease), Myotonic Dystrophy, and Frontotemporal Lobar Degeneration. She has been affiliated with the Department of Neurology since 1992. Her experience has included 8 years as a team member of the in-patient adult neurorehabilitation unit, where she gained expertise with assessment and intervention approaches to optimize functioning following acquired disorders of cognition and affect. 

Paul Eslinger, Ph.D.

Dr. Eslinger conducts cognitive and neuroimaging investigation in several areas including: aging and Alzheimer’s disease, Frontotemporal dementias, functional brain imaging of the development and maturation of executive functions and decision-making capabilities in children and adolescents, recovery from traumatic brain injury from sports and other injuries, as well as functional brain imaging of social cognition and social emotions. Studies are geared toward elucidating the neural mechanisms of cognition and emotion, the effects of pathophysiology on cognitive and emotional systems, and effects of treatment on brain reorganization and recovery of function. 

Jacqueline Rohrbaugh, P.A.-C.

Daymond Wagner, M.A.

Daymond is one of our neuropsychology technicians. He is also the study coordinator and neuropsychology technician for our ongoing studies of cognitive function and structural markers in Parkinson’s disease. He has an interest in right hemisphere dysfunction.

Travis Haines,  B.S.

Travis is one of our neuropsychology technicians. Travis has a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology with Honors in Crime, Law and Justice. His undergraduate honors thesis was on gender differences in business crime. He is finishing his Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology at Penn State Harrisburg and for his Master’s thesis he is studying the effect of spirituality and religiousness on outcomes in patients undergoing cardiac surgery. He works with Dr. Flaherty-Craig for the majority of his time here, but also spends Friday afternoons in our neurosurgery department.

Donna Swords, LPN 

Donna Swords is a licensed practical nurse who has been in nursing for over 25 years. She has worked in various locations at Penn State Hershey Medical Center, including the University Physician Groups and Medicine Suite. In February 2005, Donna joined the Department of Neurology, where she works with the Memory and Cognitive Disorders and ALS Clinics. Donna has extensive experience working with patients and families with neurodegenerative diseases and is continually recognized for the expert, compassionate care she provides.

Sonya Diggs, LPN

Sonya Diggs is a licensed practical nurse who works with the Memory and Cognitive Disorders, Neuropsychology and Epilepsy Clinics. Sonya has extensive experience working with patients with memory and cognitive dysfunction and their families and caregivers.

The Penn State Hershey Memory and Cognitive Disorders Program conducts research that involves patients directly, called clinical research, and that does not involve patients, called basic science research. Both forms of research have two goals: 

1. To help understand how the brain works
2. To help understand what causes a disease and how to treat it.

Some current research includes:

Memory and Aging Study

The Memory and Aging Study is a long-term study of the relationship between aging and memory loss. Its main goal is to identify early indicators of problems with memory. Secondary goals include developing novel and non-invasive approaches to study changes in memory function; identifying genetic factors that affect rate of progression in patients with mild cognitive impairment or mild Alzheimer’s disease; and validating an MRI technique for diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment and/or Alzheimer’s disease.

The study will involve genetic, imaging, psychiatric, and neuropsychological investigation of memory loss during aging. We will do this with pencil-and-paper questionnaires about your memory, mood, and health history; a blood sample for genetic analysis; and various MRI scans.

Additionally, the MRI scans and a smell identification test will be used to investigate problems with sense of smell in early Alzheimer's disease.

You may be eligible to participate in the study if you:
• are between the ages of 60 and 85
• have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease or mild cognitive impairment
• Have no history of stroke, head injury or other neurologic or psychiatric disorder
• do not have a pacemaker or other metal object in your body
• have no conditions that affect your sense of smell
• have not had surgery for a brain aneurysm
• are not claustrophobic
• do not smoke
• are not pregnant

The study also needs healthy volunteers without symptoms of cognitive impairment or memory problems.

For information, contact Chris Weitekamp at 717-531-5858 or cweitekamp1@hmc.psu.edu  

Validating the Montreal Cognitive Assessment for the Diagnosis of Mild Cognitive Impairment in Parkinson’s Disease

This long-term study sponsored by the Michael J. Fox Foundation is investigating whether a short paper and pencil test can determine changes in memory and thinking in individuals with Parkinson’s disease. This study requires two visits per year for three years.

You may be eligible to participate if you:
• are at least 65 years old
• have been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease
• have color vision
• have a friend or family member who can answer questions about you

For information, contact Daymond Wagner at 717-531-1804.

Alzheimer’s Disease Tissue Donation Program

In addition to information obtained about patients during life, an active tissue donation program permits people with Alzheimer’s disease and other causes of dementia to donate brain tissue after death to be used for research. This program allows researchers to study tissue from people who have dementia in order to better understand and treat Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias.

Our researchers are extremely grateful to the individuals who have participated in this program and who are considering taking part in it. All donated tissue is handled with the utmost respect and care. There is no cost to participate in the study. All transportation and technical fees will be paid for by the research team.

If an autopsy is desired in order to determine with certainly the nature of the illness that caused the dementia, patients of Penn State Hershey can qualify for an autopsy at no extra cost. Patients who have never been seen at Penn State Hershey may have the option of paying for an autopsy.

For information, contact Chris Weitekamp at 717-531-5858 or cweitekamp1@hmc.psu.edu

Characterization of Cognitive-Behavioral Change in Frontotemporal Dementia

This study is focused on early detection of Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD) associated changes. This study involves periodic neuropsychological testing and caregiver interview.

Participation consists of one visit to Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, lasting approximately two hours and paper and pencil tests of problem-solving, thinking, and concentration. Testing will take place in the General Clinical Research Center (GCRC), located on the fourth floor of the main hospital.

You may be eligible for participation if you:
• Have been diagnosed with Frontotemporal dementia
• Are between ages 40 and 75
• Have no history of learning disability, head trauma, neurological disease, or cardiac condition.

For more information, contact Ally Brothers at (717) 531-0003 x287177 or abrothers@hmc.psu.edu

Other ongoing research projects include:

Functional brain imaging resources for childhood cancer survivors
For more information, contact Shadi Farzin-Gohar, M.D., at 717- 531-6012 or Mary Hughes at 717- 531-6069.

Developmental functional brain imaging of cognition and emotion
For more information, contact Mary Hughes at 717-531-6069.

Functional brain imaging of memory and language for epilepsy surgery
For more information, contact Mary Hughes at 717-531-6069.

Metacognitive strategies and concept mapping as learning aides in medical students
For more information, contact Glenda Shoop in the Office of Medical Education at 717-531-6917.

Staff in the Penn state Hershey Memory and Cognitive Disorders Center also are collaborating with groups on the following studies:
1. Social cognition in aging and Frontotemporal Dementia
2. Characterization of cognitive-behavioral change in Frontotemporal Dementia
3. Structural MRI markers in Parkinson’s disease progression
4. CTSI Smart Spaces Initiative: “Effects of bright light treatment on sleep and depression of elders in long term care”

Cognitive Disorders Registry

All patients seen in the Penn State Hershey Memory and Cognitive Disorders Clinic will be given the opportunity to participate in our Cognitive Disorders Registry. This registry is housed here at Penn State Hershey

The goals of the Registry are to: 
• Allow us to conduct retrospective research studies on disorders of cognition. This research would involve analyses of the medical record information of patients seen by the Memory and Cognitive Disorders Clinic who agree to allow their medical record information to be recorded in the Cognitive Disorders Registry.
• Allow us to review of medical record information contained within the Cognitive Disorders Registry to identify patients who may be eligible for participation in future research studies conducted by the investigators. 


You may be eligible to participate if you are seen in our Memory and Cognitive Disorders Clinic. For more information see the “becoming a patient” tab. 
 
 

To become a new patient at the Penn State Hershey Memory and Cognitive Disorders Clinic, please call 717-531-4191. For toll free scheduling call 1-800-292-3332 and select option 1- then option 3 for Neurology.

Directions to the clinic:

The Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center is located in Hershey, within Derry Township, Dauphin County, 12 miles east of Harrisburg on Route 322. The Memory and Cognitive Disorders Clinic is located in our new East Campus outpatient building:  Online directions to our clinic.

To get to the Penn State Hershey Medical Center:

If you are traveling on the Pennsylvania Turnpike: Use exit 266 to route 72 north to route 322 west.

If you are traveling on Route 81, follow signs for Hershey/Route 322

If you are traveling on Route 283, follow 283 west and take the Hershey/Elizabethtown Exit to Route 743 to Route 322 west.

If you are traveling on Route 83, follow signs to Hershey/Route 322 east.

Once you reach the traffic light at the main entrance of the Hershey Medical Center, you will travel 322 East to the 2nd traffic light (Cherry Drive). Turn right onto Cherry Drive. Continue straight to the first road on right (Hope Drive). Continue straight on Hope Drive to first stop sign, go straight and take the first driveway to the left. Follow the road around to the front of the new East Health Campus to the parking lot. Follow signs to Building B. Please check in with the front desk upon arrival.
 
If you need further directions please call our Contact Center at 1-800-243-1455 (24 hrs/7 days a week).

Alzheimer’s Disease
Alzheimer’s Association national chapter http://www.alz.org (800) 272-3900
Greater Pennsylvania Chapter http://www.alz.org/pa/ (717) 651-5020
The Alzheimer’s Association is the premier resource for information about Alzheimer’s disease associated dementias and local resources for support for patients, caregivers, and families. 
Alzheimer's Disease Education and Referral Center http://www.alzheimers.org.  
The ADEAR Center site provides current, comprehensive Alzheimer's disease information and resources from the U.S. Government's National Institute on Aging (NIA).


Aging
National Association of Area Agencies on Aging  http://www.n4a.org/
Eldercare Locator http://www.eldercare.gov/Eldercare.NET/Public/Home.aspx 
(800) 677-1116  Pennsylvania Department of Aging (http://www.aging.state.pa.us/

Local Aging Organizations:
Dauphin County Area Agency on Aging http://www.dauphincounty.org/human-services/area-agency-on-aging/  (717) 780-6130 or (800) 328-0058
Lebanon County Area Agency on Aging  http://lebcounty.org/lebanon/cwp/view.asp?a=3&q=443320
(717) 273-9262
Cumberland County Office of Aging and Community Services http://www.ccpa.net/index.aspx?nid=119 (717) 240-6110 or (888) 697-0371

Caregiving

National Alliance for Caregiving http://www.caregiving.org
The National Alliance for Caregiving (NAC) is a non-profit coalition created to support family caregivers and the professionals who serve them. This web site provides caregiving tips, publications, resources, a list of events, and more.

National Family Caregivers Association http://www.nfcacares.org
The NFCA exists to support family caregivers and to speak out publicly for caregivers’ needs. The NFCA espouses a philosophy of self-advocacy and self-care that is predicated on the belief that caregivers who choose to take charge of their lives, and see caregiving as but one of its facets, are in a position to be happier and healthier individuals.

Medicare Caregiver Information  http://www.medicare.gov/Caregivers/

Corticobasal Degeneration
Society for Progressive Supranuclear Palsy http://www.psp.org/ (800) 457-4777

Frontotemporal Dementia
The Association for Frontotemporal Dementias http://www.ftd-picks.org/ (866) 507-7222
 FRONTIER (Frontotemporal Dementia Research Group)   http://www.ftdrg.org/

Lewy Body Dementia
Lewy Body Dementia Association http://www.lewybodydementia.org/ (800) 539-9767

Primary Progressive Aphasia/Progressive Non Fluent Aphasia/Semantic Dementia
The Association for Frontotemporal Dementias http://www.ftd-picks.org/ (866) 507-7222
National Aphasia Association http://www.aphasia.org/ (800) 922-4622

Progressive Supranuclear Palsy
Society for Progressive Supranuclear Palsy http://www.psp.org/ (800) 457-4777

Vascular Dementia
Alzheimer’s Association national chapter http://www.alz.org (800) 272-3900
Greater Pennsylvania Chapter http://www.alz.org/pa/ (717) 651-5020
American Stroke Association http://www.strokeassociation.org/ (888) 478-7653

Aphasia
National Aphasia Association http://www.aphasia.org/ (800) 922-4622

Support groups
In general, the Alzheimer’s Association maintains the most up to date list of support groups in your area and is the best place to find out about the support groups in your area. In addition, we recommend that all caregivers for people with dementia that are seen in our clinic attend a caregiver training seminar. Again, the Alzheimer’s association maintains a list of training seminars in our area.

We also have a caregiver support group for patients with one of the frontotemporal Dementias. This meets on the third Thursday of each month, at 6:00 pm, in Room 1019 of our East Campus Building. For information about the support group, contact Mark Allshouse, B.A. at (717) 586-8351 or via email at mea171@psu.edu

Frontotemporal Dementia Support Group Brochure