What kind of information should I bring to my first visit to the doctor?

Maurizio Grimaldi, MD, PhD

All background blood work and tests that assess brain function and brain imaging studies that might have been performed recently and in the past are helpful.

Also your medical history, especially relating to brain traumas and concussion, can help with the diagnosis.

You are also encouraged to have somebody close to you (a spouse, family member, longtime friend, etc.) accompany you. They will be able to convey their view on how your personality has changed over time and any memory or behavioral problems they have noticed that you may not be aware of.

Maurizio Grimaldi, MD, Ph.D. is the Leader of the Neuropharmacology/neuroscience Laboratory at Southern Research Institute in Birmingham, Alabama. Dr. Grimaldi graduated from medical school magna cum laude from the University of Napoli in Italy, one of the oldest and most prestigious academic institutions in Italy. Specializing in clinical pharmacology, Dr. Grimaldi obtained his PhD in neuropharmacology and toxicology from the same University. At Southern Research Dr. Grimaldi directs the laboratory of neuropharmacology where he conducts researches on brain physiology and  on novel treatment agents for CNS diseases such as Alzheimer’s and brain tumors. Dr. Grimaldi also directs the commercial activities for the Neuropharmacology Laboratory at Southern Research, including low-throughput screening. He is co-investigator in the NIH-NINDS Drug Screening for Neurodegenerative Diseases and Stroke. In this capacity, he supervises assay transfer from submitting investigators to the high-throughput screening facility.Visit him at www.SouthernResearch.com.