Neurology is a medical discipline that studies the physiology, anatomy and pathology of the nervous system. She separated from the psychiatry in 1968.

Remember that the nervous system refers to all the nervous centers, nerves and ganglia which allow the coordination of vital functions, the musculoskeletal system, psychic and intellectual functions, but also the reception, integration and processing of sensory messages. The nervous system includes:

• the central nervous system: spinal cord and brain (brain, brainstem, cerebellum);
• the peripheral nervous system: cranial nerves and spinal nerves;
• and the vegetative nervous systems.

Note that there are specialties, and in particular:

• cognitive neurology;
• pediatric neurology;
• neuro-oncology;
• neuro-ophthalmology;
• or neurogenetics.

The neurologist treats many conditions. These include:

• the loss of consciousness ;
• the epileptic seizures ;
• intellectual and memory deficits;
• la Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias;
• la Parkinson’s disease ;
• la multiple sclerosis ;
• transient or lasting paralysis;
• problems with balance and walking;
• the migraines ;
• the facial neuralgia ;
• tremors;
• the brain tumors ;
• or muscular pathologies such as myopathies or myasthenia gravis (characterized by muscle weakness).

Some people are at greater risk for diseases of the nervous system. Here are some recognized risk factors:

• be over 50 years old;
• have hypertension, diabetes;
• or consume alcohol³, tobacco.

To arrive at a diagnosis, the neurologist:

• questions his patient;
• performs a rigorous clinical examination;
• performs a cognitive assessment of memory, language, praxis (designates all the coordinated movements to perform a given task or act);
• he can perform a electroencephalogram (EEG), electroneuromyogram (ENMG), or evoked potentials (PE);
• and may have recourse to additional examinations (scanner, IRM…).

The consultation with a neurologist does not involve any particular risks for the patient.

Training to become a neurologist in France

To become a neurologist, the student must obtain a diploma of specialized studies (DES) in neurology:

• he must first follow, after his baccalaureate, a common first year in health studies. Note that an average of less than 20% of students manage to cross this milestone;
• the 4th, 5th and 6th years at the Faculty of Medicine constitute the clerkship;
• at the end of the 6th year, students take the national classifying tests to enter the boarding school. Depending on their classification, they will be able to choose their specialty and their place of practice. The internship in neurology lasts 4 years.

Finally, to be able to practice as a neurologist and carry the title of doctor, the student must also defend a research thesis.

The training to become a neurologist hasu Quebec

After college studies, the student must pursue a doctorate in medicine. This first stage lasts 1 or 4 years:

• a preparatory year for medicine for students admitted with a college or university training deemed insufficient in basic biological sciences;
• two years of pre-apprenticeship;
• two years of clerkship.

Then, the student will have to specialize by following a residency in neurology, for 5 years.

Before going to the appointment with a neurologist, it is important to take recent prescriptions, any x-rays, scans or even MRIs performed.

To find a neurologist:

• in Quebec, you can consult the website of the association of neurologists of Quebecâ ?? ´, which offers a directory of its members;
• in France, via the website of the Ordre des médecinsâ ?? µ.

When the consultation with the neurologist is prescribed by an attending physician, it is covered by the Health Insurance (France) or the Régie de l’assurance maladie du Québec.