In 2013, Dr. Hemanth Rao became the medical director of neurology at Carolina's ContinueCare in Charlotte, NC. In his role as the president and CEO of the Neurological Institute in Charlotte, NC, Dr. Hemanth Rao gained extensive clinical research experience in areas such as psychosis in Parkinson's patients.Those diagnosed with Parkinson's disease may experience well-known symptoms of major psychiatric illnesses referred to as psychosis; these symptoms include delusions and hallucinations.Delusions are defined as any irrational and illogical ideas, including paranoia. Hallucinations refer to the sensation of something not there in reality. Patients cannot control these unintended symptoms, but can find help dealing with them from mental health professionals.In order to treat psychotic symptoms in patients with Parkinson's disease, medical professionals must first identify their source. Common reasons include delirium, dementia, and side effects from medication given to treat the disease. Medications for treating Parkinson's disease increase dopamine in the brain to counter the brain's loss or decreased functioning of dopamine-producing neurons. However, while increasing dopamine levels enhances motor function in the body, an excess of dopamine can also lead to psychotic symptoms.
A graduate of Madras Medical College in India, Dr. Hemanth Rao is a neurologist and clinical researcher in Charlotte, NC. Dr. Hemanth Rao functions as the chief executive officer of The Neurological Institute, PA, which offers the Comprehensive Head Injury Program (CHIP) for patients experiencing mental and cognitive issues that often accompany severe head trauma.CHIP is an eight-week program during which participants with head injuries engage in regular sessions with the same therapists. Seeing the same therapists consistently is particularly helpful to patients who experience confidence and trust issues as a result of their injuries.Further to intensive physical, occupational, and speech therapy, the program assesses patients’ ability to drive and provides educational resources to both patients and their families. Patients also undertake weekly meetings with their case managers and have access to support groups and structured group therapy sessions that focus on helping participants develop the skills required to re-enter the community and, potentially, the workplace.CHIP is available to patients aged 18 or over who have experienced traumatic head injuries at or after age 13.
Dr. Hemanth Rao is a longtime neurologist who serves The Neurological Institute in Charlotte, NC, as CEO. Prior to moving to Charlotte, NC, Dr. Hemanth Rao completed his residency at the Long Island Jewish Medical Center, which is an academic and clinical hub of Northwell Health.As part of its educational offerings, Northwell Health operates a residency training program focused on the specialty of neurology. The three-year program provides participants with the skills required to independently practice neurology and meets the training requirements of both the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology and the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education. Residents in the program work alongside clinicians at several teaching sites, with each receiving extensive personal attention and gaining exposure both to the general neurology field and a range of sub-specializations, including movement disorders, epilepsy, strokes, and neuro-oncology, among others.Beyond this, the residents participate in various rounds and conferences and engage in the program’s outpatient clinics, which simulate the private-practice setting and thus place the standards of care provided to patients as a priority.
Dr. Hemanth Rao, the president and CEO of the Neurological Institute of Charlotte, NC, also takes an active role in clinical research into treatments for brain and nerve disorders. Dr. Hemanth Rao of Charlotte, NC, has contributed to several new approaches targeting Alzheimer's disease.In developing treatments for Alzheimer's disease, one of the most significant challenges is the blood-brain barrier. This thin membrane, designed to protect the brain from infectious agents, causes a problem for researchers in that it also prevents crucial therapeutic agents from entering the brain.Now, however, a team of scientists from the Queensland Brain Institute has found that ultrasound waves may be effective in helping drugs to cross that barrier. The researchers were able to use scanning ultrasonography to deliver antibodies to the brains of mice exhibiting symptoms of Alzheimer's. This treatment proved effective in reducing the number of the tau proteins that contribute to disease progression, thus mitigating symptoms.The team believes that this treatment may be similarly effective in reducing tau concentrations in human patients. If so, the technique could also prove promising in treating other neurological conditions, such as multiple sclerosis and Parkinson's disease.
