I’ve loved being a neurologist for over 25 years but it’s been heartbreaking and frustrating to see so many of my patients and their families (as well as my own) affected by awful diseases such as dementia and other neurodegenerative conditions.  So often patients would ask me why this was happening and whether there was something they could have done to prevent it.  Until recently, it wasn’t clear there was. But over the past decade it’s become increasingly evident that dementia changes typically start in the brain 20-30 years prior to diagnosis, nearly half of dementia cases may be preventable and environmental factors are responsible for the dramatic rise in Parkinson’s Disease. Despite this, preventive neurology is still not a part of conventional medical care.

Driven by a desire to optimize brain health, not just treat disease, I began a deep dive into the research myself. What I found was a solid scientific foundation for data-driven, proactive personalized strategies to reduce dementia risk and optimize neurologic health. By stepping outside the constraints of the insurance-driven disease-focused model, we can take a more proactive and comprehensive approach—addressing the vascular, metabolic, hormonal, and inflammatory factors that compromise brain health, and helping patients mitigate them strategically.

That’s why I chose to leave a successful and fulfilling traditional neurology practice—one where I was respected and deeply valued the relationships I built with patients. I felt a strong pull to take a more proactive approach to neurologic health, to stay curious and actively learn strategies that truly promote long-term cognitive well-being. I wanted to shift my energy away from navigating insurance requirements or managing the side effects of the latest medications, and instead return to the core reason I became a physician: to help people live longer, healthier, and more fulfilling lives.

It may be ambitious, but I believe small, mission-driven practices like mine can help lead the way in making Preventive Neurology part of mainstream medicine—especially as thought leaders like Peter Attia, MD bring concepts like “healthspan” and “Medicine 3.0” into broader awareness. By applying the same principles of early intervention and evidence-informed, proactive care, I believe that meaningful neurodegenerative disease prevention is within reach.

I feel passionately about this mission and I hope you will join me.