The Brigham has long been a world leader in treating brain diseases and conditions. From groundbreaking research into Alzheimer’s and other neurologic diseases, to our long-held commitment to better understanding and treating mental illness, to unparalleled expertise in neurosurgery, neurology, and psychiatry, the Brigham shapes the diagnosis and treatment of brain diseases worldwide.

Underlying this work is a commitment to our patients. Every day, patients and families turn to the Brigham for care and expertise they can’t get elsewhere. These are just a few of many examples:

Patient Care

• The Brigham is widely considered the birthplace of modern neurosurgery. This tradition of excellence continues today, as our neurosurgeons treat the toughest cases—with extraordinary results.
• We are home to one of the oldest and largest specialty headache centers in the country. We provide expert care to patients suffering from migraines and severe headaches while studying new ways to treat these debilitating conditions.
• The Brigham is one of only a few hospitals nationwide with a Comprehensive Stroke Center, a designation awarded to hospitals with the expertise and resources to treat the most complex stroke cases—helping patients return to their normal lives.
• We provide a wide spectrum of care for patients and families living with mental illness, with a focus on honoring the life experiences and challenges that can affect their journey. Our Emergency Department includes specialized care and space for those in mental health crisis, and psychiatric care is embedded in our inpatient units. We also offer novel treatment approaches, including transcranial magnetic stimulation, ketamine, and esketamine.

Research

• Spanning neurology, neurosurgery, and psychiatry, the Center for Brain Circuit Therapeutics focuses on identifying and modulating brain circuits to improve outcomes for depression, epilepsy, addiction, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, and other neurologic and psychiatric disorders.
• The Brigham is spearheading a research collaboration—one of only a handful of its kind nationwide—to uncover novel therapies for gliomas, a common type of brain tumor. This multi-institutional effort recently led to a new, FDA-approved treatment for low-grade gliomas in young adults.
• For decades, the Brigham has been at the forefront of Alzheimer’s research—making groundbreaking discoveries about why and how the disease develops and its effects on cognition, memory, behavior, and psychological health. For example, research by Brigham experts on the amyloid protein recently led to FDA approval of disease-modifying treatments.
• Brigham researchers are making important strides toward better detecting and treating Parkinson’s disease, including research aimed at creating therapies tailored to a patient’s unique genetic makeup and environmental exposures.

For more information on our neurosciences programs, please contact us at 617 424 4300 or giving@bwh.harvard.edu.