Memory Clinics & Alzheimer's Research Centers in Houston

Houston families looking for a memory evaluation can start with National Institute on Aging (NIA) Alzheimer's Disease Research Center directories, local hospitals that may offer related services, and the Alzheimer's Association chapter that serves Greater Houston. Listing an organization here is not an endorsement by that organization, and it does not mean the organization has reviewed this page. Confirm clinic hours, referral rules, and whether a site has a dedicated memory program before you book.

For a wider view of local in-home options after an evaluation, see our Houston city guide.

How many older adults live in Houston?

Houston is home to 277,124 residents age 65 and older, including 30,887 residents age 85 and older. U.S. Census Bureau ACS estimates also show 82,087 Houston seniors living alone and a city median household income of $62,894.

Those figures describe Houston's older population. They are not a count of people living with dementia or Alzheimer's disease, and this page does not publish a city-level dementia headcount.

What is dementia, and when do families seek a memory evaluation?

Dementia affects memory, thinking, and the ability to carry out daily functions. The CDC describes dementia in those terms.

Families in Houston often look for a structured evaluation when memory loss, confusion, or trouble with everyday tasks becomes hard to manage at home. This page does not diagnose any condition or recommend a treatment.

Where can Houston families find NIA-designated Alzheimer's Disease Research Centers?

Houston families can locate NIA-designated Alzheimer's Disease Research Centers through the National Institute on Aging's public directories, which list funded centers nationwide. NIA funds Alzheimer's Disease Research Centers at medical institutions across the United States.

This directory does not list a Houston street address for a specific NIA-designated center. Center locations and contact details are maintained by NIA, so use the official finder and the contact information published for each center. NIA's Alzheimer's Disease Research Center finder is the place to see which designated centers are currently listed and how to reach them.

When you contact a center, ask whether it sees patients from Houston, whether a physician referral is required, whether the visit is a research visit or a clinical evaluation, and what to bring to a first appointment.

Which Houston hospitals should families ask about memory services?

Families should call Houston's CMS-listed acute care hospitals to ask whether each site offers a dedicated memory or geriatric clinic, because CMS does not publish that information. CMS Care Compare lists each hospital's name, address, ownership type, emergency services, and overall star rating. It does not say whether the hospital has a memory unit, geriatric psychiatry unit, or dementia program.

Ask each hospital directly whether it has a dedicated memory clinic, how to request a referral, and what discharge planning looks like for a patient with dementia. If a hospital stay is part of the workup, our hospital discharge care page outlines in-home support families often arrange after a return home.

Houston Methodist Hospital. 6565 Fannin, Houston, TX 77030. Phone: (713) 790-2221. Acute care hospital, voluntary non-profit - private ownership, emergency services. CMS overall rating: 5 out of 5. CMS Care Compare profile for Houston Methodist Hospital.

Houston Methodist West Hospital. 18500 Katy Freeway, Houston, TX 77094. Phone: (832) 522-1000. Acute care hospital, voluntary non-profit - private ownership, emergency services. CMS overall rating: 5 out of 5. CMS Care Compare profile for Houston Methodist West Hospital.

Houston Methodist Willowbrook Hospital. 18220 State Highway 249, Houston, TX 77070. Phone: (281) 477-1000. Acute care hospital, voluntary non-profit - private ownership, emergency services. CMS overall rating: 5 out of 5. CMS Care Compare profile for Houston Methodist Willowbrook Hospital.

Houston VA Medical Center. 2002 Holcombe Blvd., Houston, TX 77030. Phone: (713) 794-7100. Acute care hospital under Veterans Health Administration ownership, emergency services. CMS overall rating: 5 out of 5. Veterans and caregivers can ask this facility which memory-related clinics, if any, are available to eligible veterans. CMS Care Compare profile for Houston VA Medical Center.

Baylor St Lukes Medical Center. 6720 Bertner Ave, Ste MC1-266, Houston, TX 77030. Phone: (832) 355-1000. Acute care hospital, voluntary non-profit - church ownership, emergency services. CMS overall rating: 4 out of 5. CMS Care Compare profile for Baylor St Lukes Medical Center.

HCA Houston Healthcare Medical Center. 1313 Hermann Dr, Houston, TX 77004. Phone: (713) 527-5019. Acute care hospital, proprietary ownership, emergency services. CMS overall rating: 4 out of 5. CMS Care Compare profile for HCA Houston Healthcare Medical Center.

Memorial Hermann - Texas Medical Center. 6411 Fannin, Houston, TX 77030. Phone: (713) 704-3700. Acute care hospital, voluntary non-profit - private ownership, emergency services. CMS overall rating: 4 out of 5. CMS Care Compare profile for Memorial Hermann - Texas Medical Center.

Memorial Hermann Memorial City Hospital. 921 Gessner, Houston, TX 77024. Phone: (713) 242-3000. Acute care hospital, voluntary non-profit - private ownership, emergency services. CMS overall rating: 4 out of 5. CMS Care Compare profile for Memorial Hermann Memorial City Hospital.

What does a first memory clinic visit typically involve?

A first memory clinic visit typically involves a review of medical history, questions about changes in memory and daily activities, and a plan for any follow-up testing the clinician recommends. Call the clinic when you schedule to confirm whether a referral is required, how long the visit lasts, and what records to bring.

Many clinics ask a family member or close friend to attend because day-to-day changes are easier to describe with a second person in the room. A practical packing list often includes photo identification, insurance information, a current medication list, prior test results if you have them, and notes on when symptoms began.

Expect questions about remembering recent events, managing bills or medications, driving, cooking, and getting through a typical day. The visit may include a conversation, a brief cognitive screening, and a physical or neurological exam. Further imaging or lab work is a decision for the treating clinician. Nothing on this page is a diagnosis or a treatment plan.

Ask before you go: who should attend, whether the appointment is in person or virtual, how results will be shared, and whom to call if symptoms change while you wait for follow-up.

Where can Houston families find Alzheimer's support and education?

The Alzheimer's Association Houston and Southeast Texas Chapter offers support groups and education programs serving the Greater Houston Metro Area. Visit the Houston and Southeast Texas Chapter site for current group listings and education programs, or call 800-272-3900.

Chapter programs are a complement to a medical evaluation, not a substitute for one. Ask the chapter which groups serve your part of Greater Houston and whether they are for people living with Alzheimer's, for family caregivers, or for both.

How does in-home care fit after a clinic visit?

After a memory evaluation, many Houston households add in-home support so daily routines stay familiar between appointments. Memory care at home focuses on familiar routines, supervision, and communication that matches changing memory needs.

Some families begin with companion care for safety, meals, and social support during the day, then add more hands-on help if bathing, dressing, or mobility become harder. A clinic visit does not, by itself, tell you which schedule you need. Use the clinician's notes, your observations at home, and a conversation with the care team to decide what to try first.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there an NIA-designated Alzheimer's Disease Research Center in Houston?

Use NIA's official Alzheimer's Disease Research Center finder for current locations and contact details. This page does not assign a Houston street address to a designated center because NIA maintains that list. Search the finder, then ask any center you reach whether it sees patients from Houston and what a new-patient visit includes.

Do Houston hospitals have dedicated memory units?

CMS Care Compare does not say whether a Houston hospital has a dedicated memory, dementia, or geriatric unit. Call the hospital and ask. Use the addresses and phone numbers listed above, and confirm referral rules and discharge planning for a patient with dementia at the same time.

What should we bring to a first memory clinic appointment in Houston?

Bring photo identification, insurance information, a full medication list, and any prior medical records you already have. Notes on when memory or daily-function changes started, and a family member who has seen those changes, are often useful. Confirm the clinic's own checklist when you schedule, because sites differ.

How do I reach the Alzheimer's Association in Houston?

The Alzheimer's Association Houston and Southeast Texas Chapter serves the Greater Houston Metro Area with support groups and education. Call 800-272-3900, or use the contact options on the chapter site, to ask about groups near you. The chapter does not replace a medical evaluation.

How many people in Houston have dementia?

This page does not include a count of Houston residents with dementia or Alzheimer's disease. Census figures for the city show 277,124 people age 65 and older and 30,887 people age 85 and older, which describes the older population rather than a dementia caseload.

Can a family member attend the first appointment?

Yes. Clinics often welcome a family member or friend who can describe day-to-day changes. Houston has 82,087 seniors living alone, so a neighbor, adult child, or other trusted person may need to help with transportation and note-taking. Ask the clinic when you book so they can tell you their visitor policy.

What should we ask a Houston hospital before a memory-related stay?

Ask whether a memory or geriatric clinic exists on site, how to request a referral, who coordinates discharge, and how the hospital shares instructions with family caregivers. If the person will need help at home after discharge, discuss that plan before the return home and consider in-home support that matches the discharge instructions.