Frequently Asked Questions

Healthspan Neurology is a direct-pay neurology practice. This allows for longer, unhurried visits, personalized care, and a proactive approach focused on prevention and whole-person brain health.

Your first step is a complimentary introductory call. During this call, we discuss your goals and determine whether a neurologic consultation, the Dementia Preventive Program, or Mind Over Menopause™ is the best fit.

Yes. Former patients are always welcome to reconnect through an introductory call.

Healthspan Neurology is conveniently located in Brighton, just minutes from the I-490 and I-590 interchanges, making it easily accessible from throughout the Rochester area.

Our address is:

2290 East Avenue, Rochester, NY 14610.

Please be aware that our office is by appointment only.

Dr. Gajaweera is able to see patients in-person in her office as well as by telemedicine within NY. Home visits are also offered within a 10mile radius of the office for an additional charge. See our Pricing and Policies page for details.

Timely appointments are generally available within 1-2 weeks. Let us know if non-traditional hours are needed and we will do our best to accomodate.

Initial visits for Neurologic Consultation or Mind Over Menopause are ~90 minutes. Follow up visits are one hour.

Dementia Preventive Program initial visits are typically two hours and follow up visits can vary from 90-120”.

We welcome patients without a referral. All patients in our practice must maintain a primary care provider to help partner in continuity of care.

In addition to preventive neurology programs, we offer comprehensive neurologic consultations and second opinions for concerns including headaches, memory changes, dizziness, neuropathy, movement disorders, seizures, and more.

Yes. In addition to preventive programs, we offer comprehensive neurologic consultations and second opinions.

As a general neurologist for over 25 years Dr. Gajaweera has expertise in diagnosing and managing a broad array of conditions such as epilepsy, migraine, multiple sclerosis, neuropathy and neuromuscular disorders, gait and movement disorders (such as Parkinsons Disease) as well as dementia (such as Alzheimers Disease).

Yes. Many patients seek a second opinion for new diagnoses, complex symptoms, or to explore more personalized care options.

Healthspan Neurology focuses on proactive, personalized care with preventive neurology programs, longer visits and a whole-person approach that considers sleep, hormones, metabolism, cardiovascular health, and lifestyle alongside traditional neurologic care.

Healthspan Neurology is a direct-pay practice. This model allows for longer visits and highly personalized care. There are no premiums or monthly membership fees. Current pricing is listed on our Pricing and Policies pages.

A complimentary introductory call is offered to help us decide if Healthspan Neurology is the right fit for your needs.

Insurance-based care is designed around brief visits, checklists, and treating problems after they appear. Healthspan Neurology was created to offer a different model—one focused on time, prevention, and personalized care.

Working outside the insurance system allows for longer, unhurried appointments, a proactive approach to preventive neurology, and the ability to recommend testing and strategies based on what you truly need—not what insurance requires. It also allows us to look beyond siloed medicine and consider the whole person when creating your care plan.

Yes. Many patients use HSA/FSA funds. Upon request, we can provide documentation that may be submitted for out-of-network reimbursement when eligible.

Testing is ordered through trusted local and national laboratories and imaging centers, and many tests are often covered by insurance. Costs vary depending on your individual needs and coverage.

We carefully consider the cost–benefit of any recommended testing and will make reasonable efforts to obtain prior authorization when appropriate.

Your first step is to schedule a complimentary introductory call using our online booking calendar. This brief conversation allows us to review your goals, discuss your concerns, and determine whether the Dementia Preventive Program, a Neurologic Consultation, or Mind Over Menopause™ is the right fit for you. Because this is a small, physician-led practice, we are not always able to schedule appointments by phone.

Research from the Lancet Commission on Dementia Prevention, Intervention, and Care suggests that up to 40–45% of dementia risk may be influenced by modifiable factors such as cardiovascular health, hearing and vision, sleep, metabolic health, and lifestyle.

Importantly, this estimate has grown as science has advanced. The Lancet Commission publishes an updated report approximately every four years, and each update has identified additional modifiable risk factors—reinforcing the growing evidence that proactive brain health strategies can meaningfully reduce dementia risk.

Everyone with a brain is at risk of dementia. In fact, the projected lifetime risk of dementia after age 55 is 42%.

The Dementia Preventive Program is suited for anyone of any age but may be particularly important if you have experienced:

• A family history of dementia or Alzheimer’s

• Midlife or menopausal brain fog

• Early menopause

• Prolonged post-partum cognitive symptoms or depression

• Severe menopausal hot flashes

• Risk factors such as head injury, sleep apnea, obesity, heavy alcohol or tobacco use

• A personal or family history of high blood pressure, stroke, diabetes, or heart/vascular disease

Optimizing brain health is important at every age but the fact is most people really only start to think about it in their 70s or 80s when they start to experience “senile moments” or see friends or family affected.

Dementia changes start in the brain decades prior to symptoms. Optimal prevention ideally starts in the 40s, even sooner if you think you have a family history. For women, intervening before or during early menopause is particularly beneficial.

It’s never too late to optimize brain health, even in the 70s and 80s. We know targeted lifestyle and medical management can often slow down progression, even in those already diagnosed.

Definitely! Lifestyle changes can have tremendous value in slowing down progression of dementia. I welcome you to schedule an introductory phone call to discuss your needs and determine whether the Dementia Preventive Pathway or the Neurologic Consultation Pathway are appropriate for you.

Dementia Prevention isn’t one size fits all but generally testing may include bloodwork, genetic testing, brain and cardiovascular imaging, sleep evaluation, continuous glucose monitoring, body composition and cardiorespiratory fitness testing. See the Dementia Preventive Program page to learn more about how we’ll translate this data into clear, personalized strategies to help protect your memory and optimize long-term brain health.

Yes, when appropriate. Dr. Gajaweera is a Menopause Society Certified Practitioner along with advanced training in MHT (menopause hormonal therapy) and provides evidence-informed guidance on hormone therapy and integrative options.

Testing is personalized and may include hormonal, metabolic, and cardiovascular assessments along with neurologic exam,cognitive and lifestyle evaluation.

Yes. Many neurologic conditions affect women differently across the lifespan, particularly during hormonal transitions such as the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, perimenopause, and menopause. Dr. Gajaweera provides neurologic evaluation and treatment for conditions such as migraine, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, and other neurologic disorders with a focus on women’s brain health and hormonal influences.

I provide individualized recommendations for supplements when appropriate, but I do not sell or profit from them. I can also help guide you toward safe, high-quality options so you can use them wisely and effectively.

Hormone therapy can be helpful for many women in alleviating brain-mediated menopausal symptoms, but it is not one-size-fits-all. I provide individualized guidance on the safety, benefits, risks, and types of hormone therapy so you can make an informed choice. As a member of The Menopause Society with advanced training in hormone therapy prescribing, I use an evidence-informed approach to help women navigate this stage of life with clarity and confidence.

Healthspan Neurology does not administer anti-amyloid infusion therapies directly. However, we can help determine whether you may be an appropriate candidate and guide you through the evaluation process. When indicated, we coordinate referrals to experienced treatment centers and help patients navigate the process so they can access therapy as efficiently as possible.

Yes. Integrative strategies such as stress-reduction techniques, meditation, mind-body medicine, and medical acupuncture can offer tremendous benefits for neurologic well-being. Dr. Gajaweera holds Advanced Certification in Mind-Body Medicine and is licensed in Medical Acupuncture, allowing her to thoughtfully incorporate these approaches into a comprehensive, personalized care plan.

Yes. Dr. Gajaweera takes a data-driven approach to neurologic care and has a strong interest in using technology to better understand and monitor health. When appropriate, she encourages the thoughtful use of tracking tools and wearable technologies and helps patients learn how to use this information in a practical, meaningful way.

Depending on your condition, neuromodulation devices may also be recommended, such as those used for migraine or emerging therapies like gamma light therapy for Alzheimer’s disease. These options are considered carefully and incorporated when supported by the best available evidence.