The Institute of Neurology has the most advanced methods for the diagnosis, treatment and development of research in the field of common and rare diseases of the Central and Peripheral Nervous System.
The provision of health services takes place through outpatient activities, day hospitals and ordinary hospitalization.
Structure
The wards have 38 standard hospital beds (with 2 places in differentiated rooms) and 6 Day Hospital beds (2 for the neurology DH + 4 for the neuropsychology DH).
Neurology diagnostic areas
Functional units with specific skills in the following diagnoses areas:
Multiple sclerosis;
Stroke and other cerebrovascular diseases;
Memory impairment, Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia;
Muscle diseases: polymyositis, metabolic and mitochondrial myopathies, muscular dystrophies, Steinert myotonic dystrophy and other myotonias;
Myasthenia;
Diseases of the peripheral nerves (polyradiculoneuritis, diabetic and hereditary neuropathies, carpal tunnel syndrome and other compression neuropathies);
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and motor neuron diseases;
Parkinson's disease, Huntington's chorea, dystonia and other movement disorders;
Epilepsy;
Ataxias, spastic paraparesis and other neurodegenerative diseases;
Sleep disorders;
Headaches;
Paraneoplastic neurological syndromes.
In-patients
Hospitalization can take place with:
Standard procedure (scheduled hospitalization) which requires an outpatient visit followed by the admission to hospital;
Emergency procedures from the Emergency Department.
Stroke Unit
There are also 8 dedicated Stroke Unit beds available (Neuro-vascular treatment unit 7 floor wing E). The semi-intensive unit deals with the diagnosis and treatment of patients with acute stroke who are subjected to continuous monitoring of cardiorespiratory parameters and brain function.
Interconnected services
The Stroke Unit is equipped with equipment and technology that allows the immediate execution of the main blood tests and the determination of coagulation parameters and works in close collaboration with the diagnostic services of radiology, angiology and cardiology.
Expertise
The medical staff of the unit has specific expertise in the field of cerebrovascular pathologies and makes use of the collaboration of cardiologists, vascular surgeons, radiologists and anaesthetists.
The organization of the Stroke Unit allows the timely implementation of the most appropriate therapeutic measures in the acute phase of stroke, including procedures such as thrombolysis and carotid endarterectomy.
The Women's Neurology Department (4th floor, L wing) has 25 standard hospital beds, 2 places in separate rooms and the Medical Room, 8 armchairs and 2 beds for Day Hospital.
The Neurology Department for Men (7th floor at E) has 13 standard hospital beds.
Neurology working group skills
During their hospitalization, the different working groups offer specific skills in the following areas:
Multiple Sclerosis,
Myasthenia Gravis,
Muscular Dystrophies,
Inflammatory Myopathies,
Mitochondrial Myopathies,
Ataxias,
Spastic Paraparesis,
Parkinson's Disease,
Alzheimer's Dementia and others,
Neuropathies,
Motor Neuron Diseases,
ALS.
The nursing staff has decades of experience in the field and is specifically trained to address the needs of neurological patients, even the most delicate.
Visiting hours are as follows: Weekdays from 2 pm to 6 pm, holidays from 11 am to 12 pm and from 2 pm to 6 pm.
Neurology Research
The research activity is very articulated, addressing multiple sectors of neuroscience and constantly aimed at progress in patient care through an increase in diagnostic potential, using a multidisciplinary approach.
The optimization of the treatment protocols currently available for the various neurological pathologies; the definition of innovative therapeutic approaches.
Main research areas
The main research areas are represented by:
Neuromuscular diseases: in this sector, the main cognitive advances have been made in the genetic-molecular field and in the correlation between genetic characteristics and clinical manifestations of muscle diseases. Stem cell studies are also underway which could lead to important developments in the treatment of muscle and other neurodegenerative diseases.
Clinical Neurophysiology: the most important results were obtained in relation to the functional exploration of the central and peripheral nervous system in normal and pathological conditions; to the study of the pathogenetic mechanisms involved in diseases of the central and peripheral nervous system; to the study of the phenomena of plasticity of the nervous system, in particular for pathologies such as stroke, Alzheimer's dementia, Parkinson's disease.
Clinical Neuroimmunology: in this area, research is aimed at identifying immunological and electrophysiological parameters useful in assessing disease activity and the effectiveness of immunomodulatory therapies used in the treatment of multiple sclerosis. Studies on neuromuscular transmission disorders aimed at identifying the antibodies responsible for these pathologies, at defining the pathogenetic role of the thymus and thymic pathologies in immune disorders and the basic mechanisms of autoimmunity are also under development.
Movement Disorders: the most significant contributions are represented by the identification of new indications for the clinical use of botulinum toxin, the genetics of dystonia and Parkinson's disease, the treatment of movement disorders with innovative methods such as deep brain stimulation and stimulation of the motor cerebral cortex.
Neuropsychology: the study of the cerebral organization of linguistic functions; differential diagnosis of dementia syndromes; development of new cognitive rehabilitation techniques.
Clinical trials: Numerous clinical trials are underway at the Neurology of the Gemelli Polyclinic Foundation relating to therapeutic interventions for various pathologies:
