Andreas J Plaitakis, MD

Dr. Andreas Plaitakis received his M.D. and Ph.D. degree from the University of Athens Greece. He was trained in Internal Medicine and in Neurology at Mount Sinai Hospital, where he also completed his NIH post-doctoral fellowship in Neurochemistry. He then joined the Mount Sinai faculty and rose through the ranks to Professor of Neurology. After working at Mount Sinai for over 20 years, he became Chairman of the Department of Neurology at the newly established University of Crete, where for a decade he also served as Director of the Graduate Program in Neuroscience and as Dean of Graduate studies. Recently, he returned to Mount Sinai joining again the Neurology faculty.

Dr. Plaitakis has been the principal investigator of research projects funded by NIH for almost two decades. He has published over 150 original articles and book chapters, and two textbooks. He has been an invited speaker at many National and International Meetings. He is an elected member of the American Neurologic Association.

Dr. Plaitakis divides his time between Clinical Neurology and Basic Research. He has made original observations that linked metabolic abnormalities to human degenerative neurological disorders (Plaitakis, et al. Science, 1982). His observations on glutamate alterations in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis was rationale behind the use of Riluzole, a glutamate-modifying agent, for treating this devastating disorder, the only effective treatment that is currently available.

At the basic Science level, his team cloned and characterized human proteins involved in the metabolism and transport of glutamate, a major excitatory neurotransmitter involved in a multitude of normal brain functions and in neurodegenerative processes. They also elucidated the evolutionary steps by which a novel glutamate-metabolizing enzyme acquired unique properties and a nerve tissue expression profile that may have contributed to traits, such as cognitive function, unique to humans.

Dr. Plaitakis also maintains a special interest in the clinical aspects and etio-pathogenesis of movement disorders (Ataxia, Huntington’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, etc), dementias and Multiple Sclerosis (MS). He and his co-investigators identified environmental factors contributing to the rising incidence of MS among females. They also detected brain hemodynamic changes at the earliest stages of MS that correlate with cognitive dysfunction. In addition, he is dedicated to the care of patients with diverse neurologic conditions that fall within the full spectrum of general neurology.
 

HONORS/AWARDS

1.     Special issue of Neurochemical Research. (2014) dedicated to Dr. Andreas Plaitakis “A neurologist with a lifetime fascination for neurochemistry” for his contribution to the field of Neurochemistry

2.     Excellence in Teaching Award, Neurology Residents, Mount Sinai Hospital, N.Y., 1994

3.     Elected member of the American Neurological Association (1984)

4.     Two Awards (1984 and 1988) from the Kassian Benevolent Association of New York for services provided to the Kassian community of New York

5.     Fred Valergakis Award from the Hellenic University Club of York (1984)

6.     NIH National Service Award (1977‑1978)

7.     Honorary Citizen of Kassos Island  (1979) for Outstanding Medical and Humanitarian Services to the People of Kassos Island

8.     Honorary Scholarship (1963-1968) for being top student in the Medical School.

LATEST PUBLICATIONS (2010-2014)