Dr. Kirk C. Wilhelmsen

James Burke is a Neurologist in Durham, North Carolina. Dr. Burke is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Neuronal Intranuclear Inclusion Disease (NIID). His top areas of expertise are Cerebellar Degeneration, Neuronal Intranuclear Inclusion Disease (NIID), Primary Progressive Aphasia, and Frontotemporal Dementia.

As a behavioral neurologist, my primary goal during clinic visits is to determine if brain function changes in adults above the age of 50 are related to the aging process or are suggestive of a neurodegenerative disease requiring further care. Common neurodegenerative diseases that are evaluated in the clinic include Alzheimer’s disease, frontotemporal dementia, and Lewy body dementia. Another focus during clinic visit is to address all neurological, psychiatric, and medical factors which may impact brain health. It is a privilege and honor to understand a patient's life-long journey. This is an important part of the clinic visit since it allows me to identify various risk factors throughout one's life which may lead to the development of a neurodegenerative disorder. This is also one of the main reasons I chose to become a behavioral neurologist. Dr. Liu is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Neuronal Intranuclear Inclusion Disease (NIID). His top areas of expertise are Cerebellar Degeneration, Neuronal Intranuclear Inclusion Disease (NIID), Lewy Body Dementia (LBD), and Primary Progressive Aphasia.

I see patients with memory disorders, such as Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia. In almost every encounter, I feel like I see two patients: the person with the disease and the person taking care of the person with the disease. The caregiver often needs as much attention as the patient because they are under a lot of stress, so I offer helpful tips, advice, encouragement, and resources. These diseases don’t have cures, so I spend a lot of time talking with caregivers, diagnosing the disease, and helping families cope. There are some medicines we use for these diseases, but their effect is fairly limited, so we also try to treat side effects, such as depression or behavioral problems. It’s a partnership between the doctor, the patient, and the family trying to keep the patient as safe, happy, and healthy as possible. I am also involved in research projects and enjoy both seeing patients and studying their diseases in the lab. Dr. O'brien is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Neuronal Intranuclear Inclusion Disease (NIID). His top areas of expertise are Cerebellar Degeneration, Alzheimer's Disease, Lewy Body Dementia (LBD), and Dementia.