Skip to Main Content

Dr. Salvatore Spina is a behavioral neurologist who cares for patients with degenerative, vascular, inflammatory and autoimmune conditions that cause problems with memory, thinking or language, or personality changes. This includes Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Lewy body disease, frontotemporal dementia and various conditions that cause aphasia, which is loss of the ability to speak or to understand speech. He also treats patients with movement disorders accompanied by cognitive and behavioral symptoms, including those affected by corticobasal syndrome, progressive supranuclear palsy and motor neuron diseases.

Spina's research investigates the relationship between cognitive changes and behavioral changes in patients with Alzheimer's disease, dementia, Parkinson's disease and other conditions that destroy the cells for such voluntary movements as walking, speaking and swallowing. He specifically examines inflammation in the brain, lost neurons and synapses, and brain changes that indicate disease progression. His study tools include evaluation of neurological symptoms, results from neuropsychological testing, neuroimaging with magnetic resonance imaging and positron emission tomography, and checking genetic or other kinds of biomarkers (measurable substances that can indicate disease). He is a member of the UCSF Neurodegenerative Disease Brain Bank, which uses donated nervous system tissue to further scientific understanding of these conditions.

Spina earned his medical degree from the University of Catania. He completed a residency in neurology at the University of Siena, where he also earned a doctoral degree studying how neurodegenerative diseases arise when nerve cells lose their structure or function. He then completed a residency in neurology at Indiana University and a fellowship in behavioral neurology at UCSF.

Spina is a member of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, American Academy of Neurology and American Association of Neuropathologists. As a researcher, he has been honored by the European Confederation of Neuropathological Societies and Hellenic Society of Neuropathology.

  • Board Certifications

    American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, Neurology, 2013

  • Fellowships

    UCSF, Behavioral Neurology, 2016

  • Residencies

    Indiana University School of Medicine, Neurology, 2013

  • Internship

    Indiana University School of Medicine, Internal Medicine, 2010

  • Education

    Universita di Catania, 1999

  • Languages

    English

I am dedicated to finding a cure for neurodegenerative dementia and providing my patients with the utmost care.

Where I see patients (1)

    My reviews

    4.8

    Overall Experience
    143 Ratings
    About our process
    Mar 12, 2025
    Empathetic, good communication skills
    Jan 25, 2025
    Dr Spina is an excellent communicator of complex medical issues.
    Jan 15, 2025
    Dr. Spina is excellent. He covered every facet of my husband's problem, and gave us a clear explanation of every facet of what we are experiencing.
    Oct 24, 2024
    Dr. Spina should get 6s on all these!
    Jul 31, 2024
    Dr Spina was incredibly helpful, listened to our concerns and explained our continued journey very clearly.
    Jul 25, 2024
    Dr.Spina is the most compassionate doctor I have ever met. He explains things in detail, he shows genuine concern and truly listens to what I am saying. He is thorough, detailed, knowledgeable and kind. The best doctor I've ever had.
    Jul 15, 2024
    Salvatore Spina was excellent
    Jun 18, 2024
    All's good
    May 25, 2024
    Always good
    Apr 17, 2024
    It was a very positive experience except for the scheduling. The Dr. Is very knowledgeable and explained everything.
    Apr 06, 2024
    Excellent
    Jan 04, 2024
    Dr. Salvatore Spina was very human, kind, understanding, informative; everything you would always want from a health practitioner.
    Dec 19, 2023
    Positive experience overall.
    Dec 04, 2023
    Best session since working with memory group
    Nov 23, 2023
    Dr. Spina is very thorough and makes the effort to understand our situation and to connect with us.
    Oct 18, 2023
    Dr Spina is great
    Sep 26, 2023
    Love dr Spina!
    Aug 24, 2023
    Follow-up care was not explained at all. I don't know what the future appointment entails.The reason for my visit was to explore possible diagnoses of prosopagnosia, aphantasia, and SDAM. None of those conditions were addressed, nor was I told that they will be addressed in future appointments.
    Aug 15, 2023
    Wonderful from start to finish.
    Aug 09, 2023
    Excellent service. Very professional, caring, knowledgeable and informative. It was an outstanding experience. Thank you.
    Aug 07, 2023
    Very good
    Aug 04, 2023
    I am waiting for a list of approved psychiatrists, which my care provider said I would be receiving.
    Jul 15, 2023
    From the minute we walked in the door we were treated with respect by everyone!
    Jun 06, 2023
    I wish there w was a higher rating available for Dr Spina! He is incredible! Definitely in the top .01% of all doctors

    Share