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Co-Director, MDA/ALS Clinic

Dr. Ericka Simpson has always been fascinated with the brain. So after earning a bachelor’s degree in psychology at Rice University, Dr. Simpson decided to follow her heart and study neuroanatomy in medical school. Dr. Simpson has since become one of the leading neurologists in the state of Texas. –amir shaw

What are the most common health problems that you deal with on a daily basis?
Most of the people I see have developed nerve damage because of a stroke. We also treat individuals with neurodegenerative diseases such as ataxia and dementia.

Are most of the diseases you treat preventable?
Maybe 60 or 70 percent of the diseases that we treat are preventable. The severity and onset of dementia can be decreased by minimizing the cardiovascular risk factors. Exercise has been shown to improve lifestyle and decrease the risk of dementia, memory loss and stroke.

What should we add to our diets?
Antioxidants decrease the toxic molecules that we make naturally. Our exposure to certain things can also be harmful and taking vitamins or melatonin can be beneficial in the long term.

Are there new advancements in your in field that you are excited about?
With the development of new drugs, we have been able to combat many diseases. Patients are living longer with these diseases and the key is having access to care. We’re also studying stem cells from bone marrow and looking at the blood from the placenta. We’re studying to see if the stem cells can be an active force in preventing and treating diseases.

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