EDINBURG, Texas – Dr. Roberto Alejandro Cruz, M.D. is board-certified in neurology and, according to DHR Health, the only fellowship trained neuro-immunologist and multiple sclerosis specialist in the Rio Grande Valley.

Cruz runs DHR’s Neurology Institute and Infusion Center. Through the institute, Cruz said, DHR it is the first hospital south of San Antonio to successfully administer Leqembi, an FDA-approved medication for the early treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. 

In a video interview with the Rio Grande Guardian, Cruz said this achievement marks a groundbreaking advancement in healthcare for the Rio Grande Valley.

“I am very proud of the hard work of our team at DHR Health, being the first facility to provide this groundbreaking therapy for Alzheimer’s disease will mark a new era of hope for our community,” Cruz said.

Here is the video interview:

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Cruz earned his medical degree from the Universidad Autonoma de Tamaulipas, Tampico, Mexico. He completed a neuro-ophthalmology clinical research fellowship at the University of Houston College of Optometry in Houston, Texas. He then attended Louisiana State University Health Science Center in New Orleans, Louisiana, where he completed a neurology residency and where he was named Neurology Chief Resident. That is where he decided to attend The University of Texas at Austin, Dell Medical School in Austin, Texas to pursue his second fellowship in neuroimmunology and multiple sclerosis.

Cruz pointed out that Alzheimer’s disease is a brain disorder that worsens over time. He said it is characterized by changes in the brain that lead to deposits of certain proteins. 

A DHR Health press release provided more information. “Alzheimer’s disease causes the brain to shrink and brain cells to eventually die. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia – a gradual decline in memory, thinking, behavior and social skills. These changes affect a person’s ability to function. The introduction of Leqembi represents a ray of hope for those affected by this debilitating condition, offering the potential to improve quality of life and slow disease progression,” the release stated.

“As the largest physician-owned hospital in the United States and a leading healthcare provider in the Rio Grande Valley, we are immensely proud to be at the forefront of Alzheimer’s disease treatment in South Texas, giving patients access to this groundbreaking therapy,” said Marissa Castañeda, senior executive vice president at DHR Health. “This achievement represents our ongoing commitment to bringing innovative and advanced treatment options to our community. We are proud to provide world-class care that is close to home.”

Castañeda said DHR Health remains committed to delivering exceptional care, as a new chapter in Alzheimer’s treatment is available to patients of the Valley. To learn more about this groundbreaking treatment, or to make an appointment, Castañeda said those interested should call the DHR Health Neuroscience Institute at (956) 362-8500.

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