Broadlawns Medical Center is developing a state-of-the-art brain health and memory care program under the direction of Dr. Yogesh Shah. 

Shah started in the Broadlawns memory clinic in 2016 before becoming the organization’s chief medical officer during the COVID-19 pandemic. He recently returned to the memory clinic because he saw the potential for growth that would bring significant advancements to the people of Iowa. 

“I have a passion for understanding how to pick up dementia very early, prevent it and change its course if we can,” Shah said. “If we can detect cognitive decline early, we can reverse its course by up to 40 percent.” 

Shah’s team has access to a new drug treatment for Alzheimer’s that is currently only available in Iowa through Broadlawns. They also focus on using blood biomarkers to determine a patient’s risk for cognitive decline. 

Shah is particularly passionate about bringing brain health and memory care education to minority populations. Dementia is up to twice as common among minority communities, owing in part to a mistrust of healthcare systems and lack of resources. 

Shah and his team combat these issues by meeting people where they feel comfortable. 

“We reach out to the community,” Shah said. “We go to churches and community centers and talk to community about importance of early detection.” 

He has also trained community members to administer simple tests that can identify signs of early onset dementia. From there, his team can work with individuals to bring them into the Brain and Memory Center for further discussions and treatment. 

Caregiver education and support is just as important as patient care at the Brain and Memory Center, according to Shah.  

“If we don’t take care of the caregiver, they become a second silent patient in the system,” Shah explained. “Many caregivers develop new onsets of anxiety, depression, insomnia and new chronic conditions. They are also suffering and nobody’s taking care of them.” 

The Broadlawns Brain and Memory Center will have a social worker on staff to help educate and provide ongoing support for caregivers. Shah believes this will create a better quality of life for both patient and caregiver. 

“Broadlawns is the right place for this kind of care because we already have the mission to help and improve community health,” he said. “Our focus is on end-to-end care with brain health-related issues. We already have all the parts needed to take the best care of Iowans.”