Richard J. O'Brien, MD, PhD

I see patients with memory disorders, such as Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia. In almost every encounter, I feel like I see two patients: the person with the disease and the person taking care of the person with the disease. The caregiver often needs as much attention as the patient because they are under a lot of stress, so I offer helpful tips, advice, encouragement, and resources. These diseases don’t have cures, so I spend a lot of time talking with caregivers, diagnosing the disease, and helping families cope. There are some medicines we use for these diseases, but their effect is fairly limited, so we also try to treat side effects, such as depression or behavioral problems. It’s a partnership between the doctor, the patient, and the family trying to keep the patient as safe, happy, and healthy as possible. I am also involved in research projects and enjoy both seeing patients and studying their diseases in the lab.