What is neurology?

Neurology is the branch of medicine that is focused on the treatment of disorders of the nervous system.

Who is the neurologist?

The healthcare provider who specializes in neurology is called a neurologist. After completing medical school, healthcare providers specializing in adult neurology complete 1 year of residency in internal medicine and 3 years of neurology residency. Some neurologists complete further fellowship training in various subspecialties of neurology.

Neurologists treat disorders of the brain, spinal cord, and nerves. These include:

• Muscle disorders and pain

• Headache

• Epilepsy or other seizure disorders

• Neuritis and neuropathy

• Brain and spinal cord tumors

• Multiple sclerosis

• Parkinson disease and other movement disorders

• Stroke

• Myasthenia gravis

• Muscular dystrophy

• Alzheimer disease and other forms of memory problems 

The neurologist sees patients with a wide range of problems. They may act as a patient's main provider or as a consultant. The family healthcare provider (primary care provider) is generally in charge of a patient's total healthcare.