What types of patients does a neurologist treat?

Medical imaging collage including a CT scan of the head, a colorful brain scan, a magnetic resonance angiogram of blood vessels, and an axial MRI of the brainstem.
MRI scan of a human spine in black and white, showing vertebrae, spinal cord, and surrounding tissues.

As a board-certified neurologist, Dr. Barratt has expertise in treating patients with the following conditions of the nervous system:

  • Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia

  • Migraine and other headaches

  • Stroke

  • Tremor and Movement Disorders

  • Seizures/Epilepsy

  • Traumatic brain injury (TBI)

  • Neuropathy

  • Myasthenia gravis

  • Back pain

  • Neck pain

  • Multiple sclerosis

MRI scan of a human brain in black and white.
Electrocardiogram (ECG) tracing showing multiple leads and wave patterns.
Microscopic image of amyloid beta plaques with one stained dark and the other yellow, from Robbins & Kumar Basic Pathology, eleventh edition.

Alzheimer’s disease

Biologically, Alzheimer's disease is defined by the presence of amyloid beta plaques and tau neurofibrillary tangles. 

Amyloid beta plaques form because a normal cellular protein (amyloid precursor protein) breaks down into toxic forms.  The amyloid beta clumps into plaques outside of the cells and interferes with neuron-to-neuron communication.  Amyloid beta can also enter neurons and interfere with normal cellular processes.   

Tau is a protein normally present within neurons.  In Alzheimer’s disease, Tau loses its ability to stabilize the structure of the neurons and forms neurofibrillary tangles.  This leads to neuronal cell death. 

Many older adults have concerns about memory loss. Undiagnosed sleep disorders, vitamin deficiencies, depression, and hormonal disturbances are a few of the reversible causes.

For patients with Alzheimer’s disease, there are new anti-amyloid therapies that actually remove amyloid from the brain. Obtaining an accurate diagnosis is essential. Call 561-300-4178 for an evaluation.

Medicare covers brain imaging and anti-amyloid therapies for patients with mild cognitive impairment and mild dementia due to Alzheimer’s disease.

Microscopic view of a tau-containing neurofibrillary tangle (black) within a neuron, from Robbins & Kumar Basic Pathology, Eleventh Edition.
Comparison table of anti-amyloid therapy criteria for mild cognitive impairment or dementia due to Alzheimer's. The table lists criteria for Donanemab and Lecanemab, including age range, diagnosis, cognitive assessment metrics, and biomarker evidence, with references to guidelines and studies.

Early detection is key. Only individuals with mild cognitive impairment or mild dementia due to Alzheimer’s Disease qualify for the new anti-amyloid therapies. Medicare covers the diagnostic evaluation and treatment of cognitive impairment.

A CT scan of the brain on the left shows detailed brain structure. The middle and right images are PET scans of the same brain, showing negative and positive Amyloid PET scans respectively, used to assess amyloid plaque presence.

As of May 2025, either a positive Amyloid PET scan or positive cerebrospinal fluid (obtained by a spinal tap) is necessary to document amyloid pathology. An Amyloid PET scan is a nuclear medicine study, in which a patient is injected with a radioactive tracer that binds to amyloid plaque in the brain. It is normal for the tracer to bind to the lipid-rich deep white matter (center image). However, in abnormal amyloid PET scans, there is significant binding to the cortex, or surface, of the brain. The image on the right is a positive Amyloid PET scan. A patient with a positive Amyloid PET scan may qualify to receive the new anti-amyloid therapies that remove amyloid from the brain.

Call to Schedule an Evaluation
A 5-star rating with five yellow stars next to the number 5.0.

Google Review: Dr. Barratt is extremely knowledgeable, thorough, and caring. I consulted with her on behalf of my mother, who has Alzheimer's. I found her to be extremely attentive, full of numerous lifestyle, nutrition, exercise, sunlight, and medication suggestions and information. I would recommend her wholeheartedly.