New discoveries, advancements, and treatments to improve brain health
Inside our brains, 100 billion neurons send electrical impulses at 300 miles an hour, surrounded by 400 miles of blood vessels—all within a single 3-pound organ. If something goes awry in this complex system, MedStar Health neurologists have the expertise to help you get back on track.
At MedStar Health, brain science means brain health. Whether you have a common condition or a rare disorder, we offer the most advanced testing and effective treatments—all backed by the latest research, clinical trials, and technological innovations.
Our experts collaborate to treat even the most complex cases of stroke, aneurysm, epilepsy, and brain and spine disorders. Caring neurologists, specialized providers, and nurses will guide you through every phase of your diagnosis, treatment and recovery. Together, we will create a customized plan focused on your goals and needs—getting you back to the life you want.
World-class neurosciences
Stroke
Joint Commission Comprehensive and Primary Stroke Centers
Huntington’s disease
Huntington’s Disease Society of America Center of Excellence
Parkinson’s disease
Parkinson’s Foundation Center of Excellence
Multiple sclerosis
National MS Society Comprehensive Multiple Sclerosis Care Center
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
ALS Association Affiliated Clinic
Stroke care
Every year, 4,000 stroke patients trust their care to MedStar Health
When a stroke happens, MedStar Health stroke experts from Baltimore to D.C. are ready to respond 24/7:
-
MedStar Washington Hospital Center was the first hospital in D.C. to be named a Comprehensive Stroke Center by The Joint Commission.
-
MedStar Georgetown University Hospital and MedStar Franklin Square Medical Center are also certified Comprehensive Stroke Centers.
Every patient has access to our full team’s expertise, including our robust neurosurgery department. Our stroke specialists consult with hospital teams throughout the Mid Atlantic through our remote telestroke network. We are a national leader in stroke research, with multiple clinical trial opportunities for advanced therapies. And if you need emergency surgery to remove a stroke-causing blood clot, MedStar Health is a national leader in interventional thrombectomy.
Your hospital stay will be coordinated by skilled nurses and nurse navigators in our world-class inpatient recovery program, with 50 outpatient rehabilitation clinics for physical, occupational, and speech/language therapy close to home.
Maximizing your brain’s ability to heal
Researchers at MedStar Health are leaders in research of techniques to harness brain plasticity—the brain’s ability to heal, adapt, and change. This critical research is helping us develop new rehabilitation interventions and improve outcomes for our patients.
We celebrate every milestone with patients on their road to regaining function and mobility. And we invest in inpatient rehabilitation technology to keep them moving for life, including:
-
ZeroG® robotic gait and balance training system
-
DIEGO® advanced upper extremity rehabilitation devices
-
Electrical stimulation devices
Movement by movement, step by step, MedStar Health specialists will be by your side as you navigate neurorehabilitation and reclaim independence.
Alzheimer’s disease and dementia
MedStar Health’s commitment to patients with dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, aphasia and other conditions continually expands as we lead the latest research findings.
Memory care patients get personalized diagnoses based on sophisticated imaging and testing. Our neurologists will recommend treatment to:
- Slow progression of the disease
- Manage symptoms
- Target specific proteins in the brain to reduce lesions
Our outpatient neurorehabilitation program includes an aphasia clinic and mentorship program, swallowing clinic, and therapeutic recreation. We partner with geriatric specialists from Baltimore to D.C. to provide whole-patient, family-centered care.
Better Dementia Care at Home
If you’re caring for a loved one with dementia, talk to your MedStar provider about the GUIDE Model. It’s a new program (available mid-2025) to help relieve the burden on unpaid caregivers.
Parkinson's disease
Every six minutes, someone in the U.S. is diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. While there is not yet a cure, early diagnosis is key.
MedStar Georgetown University Hospital is the only center in D.C. designated as a Parkinson’s Foundation Center of Excellence. Our movement disorder specialists will help "recalibrate" your brain for daily tasks. Your personalized care plan may include intensive therapies like deep brain stimulation and therapy in our swallowing clinic, as well as opportunities to participate in clinical trials.
Your customized care plan will combine medications with family-focused resources and support, improving your quality of life so you can continue doing the things you enjoy. From daily medications to high-tech assistive devices, we focus on maximizing function and maintaining independence.
Epilepsy
MedStar Georgetown University Hospital is the region’s first Level 4 facility, an honor from the National Association of Epilepsy Centers. System-wide, our epilepsy specialists have made it their life’s work to understand this complex condition and find innovative treatments for seizure disorders.
Our patients benefit from the most advanced treatments available for adults and children, supported by sophisticated neurological technology such as fMRI, PET, SPECT, and ROSA.
Patients can enroll in clinical trials to get access to advanced therapies before they are widely available. MedStar Health is a research site for the Human Epilepsy Project 3 (HEP3), a clinical study to understand the likelihood of response and remission with generalized epilepsy.
Headache and migraine
We’ve all had headaches triggered by illness, stress, dehydration, or too many hours at a computer screen. But when self-treatment is no longer enough and chronic headaches disrupt your life for days or even weeks, it’s time to get help from a specialist.
A migraine is more than just a bad headache—it’s a debilitating neurological condition that, without specialized care, can seriously disrupt your life.
MedStar Health migraine specialists can help you manage and prevent migraine attacks. In addition to Botox and nerve blocks, you will have access to high-tech neuromodulation devices and whole-patient treatments such as physical therapy and acupuncture.
Our board-certified experts in neurology and headache will listen to you. We will bring deep expertise to your care with a customized treatment plan to empower more migraine-free days.
Facial pain
Trigeminal neuralgia (TN) causes sudden shocks of pain on one side of the face due to pressure on the trigeminal nerve. This rare, chronic condition can manifest as mild twinges that escalate to excruciating pain—what patients describe as the most debilitating agony a human can endure.
No one should have to live with the pain of TN. MedStar Health facial pain specialists will help you find the right medication or procedure, such as microvascular decompression, to reclaim your quality of life.
Our locations
Convenient locations in Washington, DC, Baltimore, Maryland, and Virginia.
Research
MedStar Health neurologists are leaders at the forefront of brain and spine clinical research. Our goal is to improve quality of life and patient survival by offering treatments and technologies that aren’t yet widely available at other centers. Talk with your care team to explore clinical trial opportunities.