Neurology is the study of disorders of the nervous system. A neurologist is a physician who diagnoses and treats nervous system disorders of the brain, spinal cord and nerves. This specialist deals with problems related to brain disease, disorders of the brain, spinal cord, and the nerves, and the blood vessels that provide circulation to these organs. A neurologist also treats specific diseases such as Bell’s palsy, cerebellar ataxia and meningitis.

Physicians in this specialty treat patients suffering from numerous diseases and illnesses, but some of the most common are stroke, Guillain-Barré syndrome, brain tumor, migraine, meningitis, seizure, Parkinson's disease, epilepsy, cerebral palsy, coma, multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's disease, cluster headache, ischemic stroke, encephalitis, encephalopathy, botulism, chorea, Lou Gehrig's disease, and ataxia.

Once properly diagnosed, practitioners can perform numerous procedures on patients including Electroconvulsive therapy and Electroencephalogram (EEG).

To diagnose patients with possible illnesses and diseases, specialists will often perform one of many tests including CAT Scan of the Brain, CT Scan of the Brain, MRI Scan of the Brain, MRI Scan of the Spine, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), Computed Axial Tomography (CT or CAT Scan), Myelogram, Spinal Tap, Lumbar Puncture (LP), Electromyography (EMG), Myelography, Positron Emission Tomography (PET Scan), Spinal Puncture, Nerve Conduction Velocity (NCV), Electroencephalography, Cerebral Angiogram, Electronystagmography (ENG), Ocular Pressures, CSF Collection, and Myogram.

Doctor density varies by specialty and location. Louisiana has 160 practicing neurologists. Broken out by city, neurology doctor density in Abbeville is 1, in Alexandria is 3, in Baton Rouge is 31, in Bossier City is 2, in Covington is 11, in Gonzales is 1, in Gretna is 8, in Hammond is 5, in Houma is 6, in Jefferson is 6, in Kenner is 2, in Lafayette is 8, in Lake Charles is 6, in Leesville is 1, in Luling is 1, in Mandeville is 1, in Marrero is 9, in Metairie is 14, in Monroe is 3, in Morgan City is 3, in New Iberia is 2, in New Orleans is 51, in Pineville is 1, in Raceland is 1, in Ruston is 1, in Shreveport is 24, in Slidell is 10, in Thibodaux is 1, and in West Monroe is 2.

Louisiana was named after French King Louis XIV, and the state joined the union in 1812. Louisiana’s population is 4,523,628, and Baton Rouge is its capital city. Louisiana has rich cultural heritage that is celebrated at many festivals all over the state. Taste a variety of cuisines, including Cajun and Creole food. Listen to jazz or zydeco music in New Orleans, visit the French Quarter, attend the Mardi Gras in the spring, or take a steamboat trip down the Mississippi River.

According to 2005 Census estimates, Louisiana has a population of 4,523,628. Of this population, 1,132,763 are under the age of 18 and 528,837 are at or above the age of 65.