If a parent or close relative had dementia or Parkinson’s, it is natural to wonder what it means for you. Family History of Dementia care is a neurologist-led way to answer that question with clarity instead of fear — understanding your actual risk, acting on what you can change, and establishing a baseline so anything that does emerge is caught early. At Neurology Solutions, it is part of our broader Brain Health & Healthy Aging program. It is not a genetic test in the mail, and it is not a risk score from a website. Brain health is not a wellness trend to us. It is neurology, applied early.
You do not need symptoms to begin. In fact, this work is most valuable before symptoms appear — when there is the most room to influence your trajectory, and when a clear baseline is easiest to establish. If you are worried about what runs in your family, this is where to start: with a physician who understands the brain.
My parent had dementia. What should I do now? Start by understanding what your family history actually means — most dementia is not simply inherited — then act on the risks you can change and establish a cognitive baseline with a neurologist. That is a calmer, more useful response than a genetic test or an online calculator.
Answers, Not Anxiety — or a Test in the Mail
Family history is a common reason people first worry about their brain — and it is exactly where the market fills the gap with the wrong tools. Our approach is different because it is clinical and calm:
- Not direct-to-consumer genetic testing. A mail-in gene result, interpreted without a physician, can frighten far more than it clarifies. Most dementia is not caused by a single inherited gene, and a result out of clinical context rarely tells you what to do.
- Not an internet risk calculator. An online score cannot examine you, weigh your real history, or act on the result. We can.
- Not a wellness program. This is medicine, directed by a neurologist — not a subscription or a supplement plan built around your worry.
- Not fear-based marketing. We do not trade on dread. Family history is a reason to act early and thoughtfully, not to panic — and most of what matters is within your influence.
What Family History Means — and What It Doesn’t
A family history of dementia raises your risk, but for most people it is not destiny. Understanding the difference is the first and most reassuring step.
Hereditary risk vs. modifiable risk
A small number of dementias are caused by specific inherited genes and run strongly through families. Far more common is a modest, shared increase in risk from a mix of genetics, environment, and lifestyle. The genes you inherited you cannot change — but a large share of dementia risk is tied to factors you can influence, and that is where a neurologist focuses your effort.
When neurological assessment makes sense
A neurologist’s assessment is worthwhile if a first-degree relative developed dementia (especially at a younger age), if several relatives were affected, if you have noticed changes in your own memory or thinking, or if you simply want an informed, personalized read on your risk. Part of our job is also to tell you when your history is reassuring and aggressive testing is not needed.
A baseline and a proactive plan
The most useful response to a family history is to establish a baseline while you are well and act on the risks you can change. That proactive, physician-led work — baseline, personalized planning, and the modifiable factors with the strongest science — is exactly what our Cognitive Longevity program is built for, supported by metabolic and sleep care where relevant.
Parkinson’s in the family
Family history is not only a dementia question. A relative with Parkinson’s or a related condition can also raise questions worth a neurologist’s perspective. Movement disorders are the heart of our practice, so we can address inherited Parkinson’s concerns — and early signs such as REM sleep behavior disorder — within the same visit. Explore the conditions we treat.
Where to Go From Here
- Want to act proactively? Our Cognitive Longevity program is the proactive, physician-led path to protecting your memory and thinking over the long term — the right next step for most people worried about family history.
- Noticing changes in your memory or thinking now? Start with cognitive & memory concerns for evaluation.
- Worried about Parkinson’s specifically? Movement disorders are the heart of our practice — explore the conditions we treat.
Who This Is For
This care is most valuable early, well before anyone would think to see a neurologist. Patients come to us because they are:
A parent with dementia
Recently faced a parent’s diagnosis and want to understand what it means for them — and what to do now.
Already had genetic testing
Received a direct-to-consumer result and want a physician to interpret it in real clinical context.
Parkinson’s in the family
Concerned about inherited Parkinson’s risk and wanting the perspective of a movement-disorder specialist.
What Happens Next
We start by understanding your family and personal history and putting any prior genetic testing in clinical context, so you get an honest picture of your actual risk — including when it is reassuring. From there, the proactive plan and long-term monitoring happen through our Cognitive Longevity program, delivered through our concierge practice, with monitoring repeated over the years rather than a single risk assessment — in Austin and by telehealth in Texas and Florida.
Backed by Real Neurological Authority
The credibility of a brain-health program depends entirely on who is behind it. Neurology Solutions is led by Robert M. Izor, MD, MS — a board-certified neurologist, fellowship-trained in movement disorders and Deep Brain Stimulation, who completed his neurology residency at UT Health Science Center Houston as Chief Resident, holds an MS in Molecular Immunology, is a member of the International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society, and is affiliated with St. David’s Medical Center. Two decades caring for patients with Parkinson’s disease and other complex neurological conditions has taught us what helps the brain remain resilient, functional, and independent over time.
Family History & Dementia Risk: Common Questions
My parent had dementia — will I get it too?
Not necessarily. A family history raises risk, but for most people dementia is not simply inherited from one parent. A neurologist can help you understand your specific risk and, importantly, act on the large share of it that is within your control.
Should I get genetic testing?
Sometimes, but not usually as a first step — and rarely on your own. Most dementia is not caused by a single testable gene, and a result out of context can mislead or frighten. If genetic testing is appropriate for your situation, we help you decide and interpret it clinically.
I already did a direct-to-consumer DNA test — what now?
Bring it in. A physician can interpret a result in the context of your full history and health, tell you what it does and does not mean, and translate it into a plan — which is exactly what a mail-in result cannot do on its own.
Can I actually lower my risk?
There are no guarantees, but a meaningful share of dementia risk is linked to modifiable factors — vascular and metabolic health, sleep, activity, hearing, and more. Acting on them early, guided by a physician, is the most credible thing anyone can do.
Does a family history of Parkinson’s count too?
Yes. Movement disorders are the heart of our practice, so we can address inherited Parkinson’s concerns and early signs in the same visit. See the conditions we treat.
Is this part of concierge membership, and can I use my insurance?
Yes to both, and they are separate things. Your medical care is billed to your insurance or Medicare in the usual way, and you pay your normal copay or deductible. Membership provides the structured brain-health program: a neurologist deciding which changes matter most for you and which comes first, the support to put them into practice, and the measurement that shows whether they worked — non-covered services that work alongside your medical care. Membership is not insurance and does not replace it. Many members use HSA or FSA funds; check with your plan administrator.
Care is available in Austin and by telehealth in Texas and Florida.
Medically reviewed by Robert M. Izor, MD, MS, board-certified neurologist. Last reviewed July 2026.
Turn Family History Into a Proactive Plan
For most people, the answer to family history is a proactive, physician-led plan — that’s our Cognitive Longevity program.