July 11 2021 – Dr. Jeff Gelblum, MD, a board-certified neurologist with First Choice Neurology, the nation’s largest neurology practice, is scheduled to treat the first patient in Florida with Biogen’s Aducanumab, a monthly infusion treatment for early stage Alzheimer’s patients. The drug works to decrease amyloid plaque in the brain, which is a marker for Alzheimer’s disease.
According to Dr. Gelblum, Florida’s first Aducanumab patient is a middle-aged woman who is in good health and lives in Aventura. Showing signs of mild Alzheimer’s, she underwent a series of tests at First Choice Neurology offices to determine her qualification for the treatment.
“Not every Alzheimer’s patient is eligible to receive this treatment,” said Dr. Gelblum. “A patient must undergo a thorough evaluation before infusions are started.”
To derive maximum benefit from this new drug, Dr. Gelblum is selecting patients who are similar to the best responders in the Aduhelm clinical trials — mild disease, confirmed amyloid plaque in the brain, and overall good health and functionality.
This evaluation, he explained, includes a brain MRI to confirm that the cognitive decline is not related to other causes, such as stroke or hydrocephalus; a PET Scan or spinal tap to confirm that the plaque-forming amyloid protein is in fact present; and clinical assessments of independent activities of daily living, mood, and various cognitive tasks involving memory and attention.
The Aduhelm treatment consists of a monthly IV dose of medication provided in a First Choice Neurology infusion center. Doses gradually increase over a seven-month period and level off at 10mg/kg of weight.
“We are extremely honored to be the first in Florida to bring this promising treatment to our patients,” added Dr. Gelblum. “For the past 18 years, we have been wandering in a treatment desert. Now, we have the chance to offer hope to our patients across the state.”
First Choice Neurology physicians are located in more than 40 locations, including Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach Counties, as well as the Tampa Bay area in Central Florida.
About First Choice Neurology:
As the largest private pediatric and adult neurology group in the United States, First Choice
Neurology has more than 80 neurologists and 120 support health care staff members, operating out of 41 facilities in six Florida counties and in 35 major hospitals.
The Florida medical group of neurologists, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, neuropsychologists as well as occupational therapists (OTs) and physical therapists (PTs), began serving patients in 2004 in response to South Florida’s increasing need for high-quality neurology services. First Choice offers both diagnostic and physical rehabilitative services for patients with a wide variety of neurological conditions, including Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, epilepsy, migraines, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, sleep disorders and strokes. Additional subspecialties include neuromuscular disorders, neuro-ophthalmology, pain management, neuropsychology, neuroradiology, physical medicine and rehabilitation.
First Choice pediatric neurologists treat a wide range of conditions as well, including autism, cerebral palsy, medically resistant epilepsies, inflammatory and infectious diseases of the central nervous system, and neuro-developmental, genetic, and metabolic disorders.
For more information about First Choice Neurology, visit www.FCNeurology.net
