Geriatric Behavioral Health

Enhancing Mood and Memory Wellbeing: Geriatric Cognitive and Mental Health Services in Maine

Northern Light Mood and Memory is unique in Maine, bringing together expert clinical services for diagnosing and treating age-related mood and memory problems and clinical research to slow cognitive decline.

Learn more about Robert C. Strauss Neurocognitive Research Program and MAINAH.

Northern Light Mood and Memory

We understand that maintaining mental and emotional health is essential as we age. Our specialized Mood and Memory program is designed to address the unique needs of seniors in Maine.

Mood and Memory is a multidisciplinary program for older adults with mood, anxiety, sleep, and cognitive disorders. The program offers expert assessments, comprehensive treatment, and dedicated support to enhance mood, memory, and overall quality of life.

Northern Light Mood and Memory is one of the few programs in Maine specializing in outpatient care of individuals with age-related memory and cognitive disorders, mood, and mental health conditions, or both.

We are a multidisciplinary program with a tradition of excellent clinical care, integrated teaching, and high-quality research programs that help bring leading edge therapies to the people of Maine.

Diagnostic consultations

Our team, which includes a neuropsychiatrist, geriatric psychiatrist, psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners, neuropsychologists, nurses, and medical assistants, will work with you to clarify your diagnosis through a comprehensive review of medical records as well as neurological, cognitive, and psychiatric assessments.

In addition, brain imaging, laboratory, and sleep studies may be ordered as necessary. We encourage family involvement in these evaluations and coordinate care with your primary care provider and other specialists as needed.

Although we specialize in the care of older adults, younger persons with early onset dementia or complex neuropsychiatric conditions are also seen.

Ongoing care

We may stay involved in your ongoing care, including medication management, continued evaluations over time, and coordinated care with other healthcare providers. Some return visits may be done by telehealth, depending on your unique circumstances and our assessment of the need for in-person visits.

As part of your treatment in Mood and Memory, we will provide counseling on how you can help maintain your brain health.

Neuropsychological evaluations

People needing more comprehensive assessments of memory and cognitive function may be referred to the neuropsychologists on our team to help with developing a more accurate diagnosis and treatment plan. Please contact us to learn more and to find out if an assessment is right for you or your loved one.

Anti-amyloid therapy for Alzheimer’s disease

New therapies slowing progression of Alzheimer’s disease are available for patients with a confirmed diagnosis who meet certain eligibility criteria. If we suspect Alzheimer’s as your diagnosis, we may recommend further testing to see if these disease-modifying therapies are appropriate for you.

Alzheimer’s Disease Clinical Research: The Robert C. Strauss Neurocognitive Research Program

The Robert C. Strauss Neurocognitive Research Program offers access to the latest clinical trials for Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders. Finding new treatments for Alzheimer’s disease is our primary mission. We have also expanded our focus to include other disorders affecting cognition and behavior, such as frontotemporal degenerations and Lewy Body disease.

Northern Light Mood and Memory maintains a strong commitment to giving Mainer’s access to the latest and most promising research therapies without having to go to the large academic centers in Boston or elsewhere. Participation in research trials not only give our patients and families access to potentially game-changing treatments but offers them hope not only for their own future, but their children’s future as well.

Our research program is the largest research program in brain aging, memory loss, and Alzheimer’s disease in northern New England. Our research program is a close collaboration of Northern Light Acadia Hospital and Northern Light Clinical Research. We have key research partnerships with experts in cognitive aging and dementia at Massachusetts General Hospital, The Jackson Laboratory, and the University of Maine.

Recruitment for Alzheimer’s Disease Research Trials

We generally recruit from the Mood and Memory program, but accept referrals for trials from the community, especially for people with normal cognition who are concerned about developing dementia, and patients diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment or Alzheimer’s disease who are motivated to participate in a clinical trial without having to go to Boston. To be considered, please email us email us at MAINAH@northernlight.org. 

 

Research Registry: Maine Initiative for Neurologic Aging and Health (MAINAH)

The Maine Initiative for Neurologic Aging & Health (MAINAH) is our research registry for people interested in healthy brain aging and participating in research projects related to risk for Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders. 

MAINAH is a statewide registry and interest group dedicated to promoting healthy brain aging and addressing memory loss, Alzheimer’s disease, and related disorders. Our mission is to bring together fellow Mainers who are passionate about maintaining brain health, learning from one another, and connecting with experts in the field.

MAINAH is a supportive community that fosters collaboration and education among its members. By joining our network, you will have access to:

• Bi-annual webinars featuring informative presentations by experts in dementia and brain health.

• Opportunities to ask questions and share concerns with local specialists who understand the unique needs of Mainers.

• Email notifications about opportunities to participate in groundbreaking research conducted by Maine-based neuroscientists, helping advance our understanding of Alzheimer's disease and other cognitive disorders.

With more than 700 members from every corner of our beautiful state, MAINAH is a testament to the power of collective effort in improving brain health for all Mainers. Joining our community is completely free, and we encourage you to become a part of this important initiative.

We hope you will consider joining our MAINAH community, where – together – we can make a difference in the lives of those affected by Alzheimer's disease and other brain health-related issues.

Register for MAINAH
 

Embrace the Future: Become a Catalyst for Change

Are you ready to become a part of a movement that redefines the landscape of mental health care? Northern Light Mood and Memory invite you to step into the forefront of progress. Call our Behavioral Health Resource Center at 1-800-640-1211 or 207-973-6100 to learn more about our ongoing research, upcoming trials, and how you can be a driving force in the journey toward transformative breakthroughs. 

Let Northern Light Behavioral Health be your partner in progress, your catalyst for change, and your beacon of hope. Through Behavioral Health Research and Clinical Trials, we're not just advancing the science – we're advancing the lives of individuals and families who deserve a brighter, healthier future.