Addressing the Cognition Concerns of Multiple Sclerosis Patients

Updated on Mar 27, 2026 | Featured, Research, Your Health

Sarah Levy, PhD

Multiple sclerosis (MS) patients often worry that the disease will diminish their ability to think and remember, along with their motor skills. Sarah Levy, PhD, Assistant Professor of Neurology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, is working to address these concerns, studying the impact of MS on the brain and cognition and uncovering new possibilities for early interventions.

Dr. Levy arrived at Mount Sinai’s Corinne Goldsmith Dickinson Center for Multiple Sclerosis in 2020 with a PhD in clinical psychology and a passion for neuropsychology and neuroscience. She didn’t have extensive experience working with MS patients. But she knew that at the MS Center, she would be able to delve into an area that can be extremely concerning for patients when they receive an MS diagnosis: The potential effects of the condition on thinking and memory.

She was drawn to do a post-doctorate fellowship at Mount Sinai with James Sumowski, PhD, who researches modifiable risk and protective factors linked to cognitive decline.

“My prior research experience largely involved neuroimaging, which plays a central role in MS diagnosis and care,” says Dr. Levy, who is also Associate Director of the MS Cognitive Clinic. “Coming here allowed me to connect that work more directly to questions about cognition and brain–behavior relationships.”

As a result, Dr. Levy stayed on as faculty after her postdoc ended in 2022. Her current research focuses on several crucial areas, including how MS affects cognition; the possible impact of subtle neuroanatomical changes in the brain caused by the disease; and how MS affects cognition as patients age.

MS may affect patients’ thinking, but not in the ways researchers once thought

Besides affecting sensorimotor skills such as balance and coordination, clinicians and researchers have long known that MS can also affect a patient’s thinking and memory. But just as the latest disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) have helped keep severe motor symptoms at bay, these medications may also be changing the outlook for patients when it comes to their cognitive abilities.

Statistics show up to 70 percent of people with MS experience cognitive changes, particularly memory problems and slower information processing. But that outlook has changed with medications that work to quiet the disease’s signature lesions that can appear in the brain’s white matter, according to Dr. Levy.

“These lesions have been associated with cognitive dysfunction, but with our current DMTs, we can stop the formation of new lesions much better than in the past,” Dr. Levy says. “As a result, some cognitive issues, particularly processing speed, are less pronounced than before.”

For example, in a study recently published in the journal Brain, Dr. Sumowski, Dr. Levy and others at the MS Center found that patients with relapsing-remitting MS had normal processing speed, and slowed processing speed is now less of an issue for patients with progressive MS than previously.

That doesn’t mean MS has no effect on cognition. “Since our DMTs help reduce inflammation and protect against cognitive changes, cognition in MS patients now looks different and better,” says Dr. Levy.

She describes the cognitive issues as more subtle, and sometimes easier for patients to work around, but still frustrating. “We’re talking about things like word-finding difficulties, which are the number one cognitive complaint from our patients.”

The other concerns she hears from her MS patients: Losing one’s train of thought in a conversation; forgetting why they came into a room; and the dreaded “brain fog.”

“Many people with MS figure out how to navigate these challenges on their own. But we are working on how we can help with therapies such as cognitive remediation, which addresses these challenges by teaching practical strategies that patients can use every day,” she says.

MS, dementia and aging

Having trouble finding words is also something that happens with normal aging, which can make it difficult to determine whether a patient’s cognitive changes are due to MS or simply getting older. “It can be hard to tell the difference,” says Dr. Levy, who is studying what cognitive aging looks like in MS.

To better understand these distinctions, her current research is expanding to examine how age-related changes in MS compare with changes seen in other conditions, such as Alzheimer’s disease. She is recruiting participants for a study that uses PET scans and blood biomarkers to help make this distinction.

“Those with Alzheimer’s disease have what’s known as a buildup of beta-amyloid proteins in the brain. “In this study, we’ll look for these proteins in patients and combine that with comprehensive neuropsychological testing to see how patients with MS who don’t have these proteins differ from older adults without MS who do.” Early research suggests that people with MS may have lower rates of beta-amyloid in the brain.

“Anecdotally, we don’t often see people with MS with the kind of dense forgetting that occurs with Alzheimer’s disease,” she says. “I have patients with MS in their 70s and 80s who are fully oriented to things like date, time, and where they are—that’s very different from what we see in Alzheimer’s. And while it’s too early to know for sure, it’s an interesting question whether people with MS might have some protection from the disease.”

White matter vs. gray matter in the brain

Another way thinking about MS is changing: For decades, MS was thought of as an inflammatory condition that primarily affected the white matter in the brain. Now, researchers are learning that the gray matter may also be affected.

“In my research, I’m interested in the subtle neuroanatomical changes that may occur in the brain’s gray matter early on in MS, as well as the subtle cognitive changes that might bring,” says Dr. Levy.

Using neuroimaging in collaboration with Erin Beck, MD, PhD, Dr. Levy has found that early on, in some patients, there may be a very subtle loss in the thickness of the gray matter in the brain, known as cortical thickness.

These findings, she stresses, shouldn’t be cause for alarm. “I don’t want to worry patients,” Dr. Levy says. “We are talking about very subtle findings, micro changes, so small they are typically not even mentioned in a radiological report.”

While researchers are still learning about what these changes might mean, and how they might be related to possible cognitive and motor function, the research nevertheless holds promise for improving patients’ quality of life.

“These changes tend to occur very early on in the disease, which means we could have an opportunity to try immediate interventions, such as teaching patients strategies to compensate for possible cognitive changes, or even dietary changes, to help protect the brain,” she says.

Promise in protecting and helping the brain in people with MS

With advances in neuroimaging, clinicians are now able to detect MS at earlier, milder stages, and better understand what the disease looks like early on. That means that, with earlier intervention using DMTs alongside lifestyle modifications in diet, exercise, and sleep, clinicians can better protect patients’ cognitive health.

For MS patients experiencing cognitive symptoms—and even those who are not—Mount Sinai offers a comprehensive neuropsychological assessment clinic to help patients and their doctors get a sense of where they are.

“For every patient who comes through the MS Center, we can provide a baseline neuropsychological exam that looks at memory, attention, language, sensorimotor skills, and executive functioning,” says Dr. Levy. Then we can use this information for comparison over the years, if patients continue with regular testing.

“Just like we use MRIs to track lesions, we can track a patient’s cognitive function over time,” says Dr. Levy.

Mount Sinai neuropsychologists can also look for changes in mood, depression, anxiety, and sleep. “We can relay this information to our neurologists and point patients to interventions that might be helpful,” says Dr. Levy.

Mount Sinai also offers MS patients access to The C. Olsten Wellness Program, directed by Ilana Katz Sand, MD, and staffed with a nurse practitioner, physical therapist, a dietician, and social workers.

But patients are the true experts in what they are experiencing, whether changes in word-finding or walking.

“By listening carefully, we can keep adapting our clinical evaluations to be more sensitive to the issues patients are reporting,” says Dr. Levy. “It’s truly our patients who have allowed us to learn and understand what is happening in the brain, helping us advance the field in a meaningful way—and also shaping the way we care for them.”

If you are interested in participating in Dr. Levy’s forthcoming PET imaging study on cognitive aging and Alzheimer’s disease in MS, you can reach out to her directly at 347-503-5471 or email her at sarah.levy@mssm.edu.

By Paula Derrow

He Was Cured of Cancer at Mount Sinai Two Decades Ago. Now This Actor’s Cancer Experience Informs His Latest Stage Role

Updated on Mar 18, 2026 | Cancer, Ear Nose Throat, Featured, Head and Neck, Patient Stories, Your Health

Actor Jay Russell, Courtesy of Paper Mill Playhouse

Actors often call on their own experiences when developing a character for the stage. But few have the depth of understanding that 21-year head and neck cancer survivor Jay Russell brings to the role of Caesar Rodney in the musical 1776, playing at Paper Mill Playhouse in Millburn, New Jersey, from Wednesday, April 1, to Saturday, May 2.

The Tony Award-winning show portrays the events leading up to the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Mr. Rodney, a delegate to the Continental Congress, struggled with his own cancer that affected his face throughout this period and eventually died of the disease. In what was arguably his most influential act, he cast a decisive vote for independence.

The actor’s cancer journey began in 2004, when he discovered a lump in his neck. Doctors at what was then called Beth Israel Medical Center took a biopsy, which showed squamous cell carcinoma, a cancer that can arise in the head and neck region. It had started in his right tonsil, then spread to the lymph nodes in his neck. Treatment included surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation. Due to the location of the tumor, Mr. Russell used a feeding tube, which led to a 40-pound weight loss.

“I’m an actor. I take direction well, so I did everything they said to do,” he says. He was back at work about 11 months after the start of treatment. “They took excellent care of me.”

The treatment was successful, and more than two decades later he remains cancer-free. (And in that time, the hospital became Mount Sinai Beth Israel, which closed in 2025.)

“There’s some asymmetry to my face and I sometimes have difficulty swallowing, but my speaking and singing voice came through unscathed,” says Mr. Russell, who has since performed on- and off-Broadway, on national tours and regional theatres, and on film and television.

We know less about Caesar Rodney’s medical story back in the 18th century. There was no effective treatment for his cancer at that time, though reports indicate that a doctor operated on his nose, leaving him disfigured. According to reports, he rarely went out in public without a green scarf covering part of his face.

But he didn’t let his illness stand in his way. Mr. Rodney served as an officer in the Delaware militia, a delegate to the Continental Congress, and governor of Delaware. His history-making moment came when the Continental Congress was voting on whether to declare independence from Britain. At that point, Mr. Rodney was in Dover, Delaware. The other two Delaware delegates were at an impasse in Philadelphia; one delegate was against declaring independence, the other for it. They needed someone to break the tie and get a “yes” vote from Delaware.

Mr. Russell (back row, fourth from right) with the cast of the musical 1776. Photo credited to Rebecca J Michelson.

In the film version of 1776, Mr. Rodney was back home recuperating from his disease; the film portrays him as a frail, elderly man. But the historical record suggests that he was in his late 40s, pragmatic, and back in Dover dealing with the Delaware militia. So, a bit of a different story is told in 1776.

“I imagine our director wanted to cast someone who had strength and resilience,” says Mr. Russell.

In real life and in the show, as soon as he received the message that he was needed urgently, Mr. Rodney jumped on a horse and rode 18 hours through a torrential storm to Philadelphia. He arrived muddy, exhausted, and eager to cast his vote to cut ties with Britain.

Mr. Russell says his personal experience overcoming adversity helps him understand what it was like for the historical figure.

“No matter how strong, resilient, and admirable Rodney was, he was in great pain and discomfort having this untreatable cancer on his face,” he says. “I will certainly use my own memories of the pain, the treatment, and the experience that I had in portraying Rodney.”

That’s not the only lesson Mr. Russell brings to his portrayal of the historical figure.

“Rodney’s diagnosis led him to understand how precious time was and how he had to use every moment,” says Mr. Russell. The politician used that moment to help bring independence to the 13 colonies. The actor brings it to share that important story on stage.

Besides being the 250th anniversary of 1776, Mr. Russell believes the musical’s revival is extremely timely. “This show celebrates the core of what made us a country, and how differing viewpoints can unite and come together for the common good,” he says.

 

She Didn’t Think Much of the Pain in Her Jaw, But She Was Having a Heart Attack: Doctors Say Don’t Ignore Your Symptoms

Mar 6, 2026 | Featured, Patient Stories, Your Health

When Jessica Rodriguez, 55,  experienced sudden, severe jaw pain one evening, she assumed it was related to recent dental work. But as the pain worsened overnight, she trusted her instincts and sought emergency care—a decision that saved her life.

At Mount Sinai Queens, Ms. Rodriguez was treated by Jonathan L. Murphy, MD, an interventional cardiologist, who quickly identified that she was having a severe heart attack, despite her initial symptoms being subtle. Additional testing revealed a 100 percent blockage in her right coronary artery, and Dr. Murphy immediately performed a life-saving stent procedure to restore blood flow to her heart.

Jonathan L. Murphy, MD. Click here to make an appointment.

“Heart attacks don’t always present as chest pain, especially in women,” says Dr. Murphy. “Symptoms like jaw pain, back pain, fatigue, or shortness of breath can be warning signs and should never be ignored.”

Thanks to rapid diagnosis and treatment, Ms. Rodriguez recovered quickly and returned home within a day. She has since made lifestyle changes to support her heart health, including increasing physical activity, improving her diet, and working to quit smoking, while also learning about her family history of heart disease.

Dr. Murphy emphasizes the importance of self-monitoring and self-advocacy. “If something doesn’t feel right, listen to your body and seek care,” he says. “Acting early can save your life.”

Ms. Rodriguez, a Queens resident, now shares her story to encourage others—especially women—to take symptoms seriously.

“I almost talked myself out of getting help,” she says. “Trusting myself made all the difference.”

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How Much Do You Know About Colorectal Cancer? Take the Quiz

Mar 3, 2026 | Cancer, Featured, Gastroenterology, Your Health

Colorectal cancer is now the leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States for both men and women under the age of 50. There are many misconceptions about the disease, and knowing the facts can help you fight it. Can you separate myth from fact? Take the quiz below, then click “Done” to see your score and correct answers.

This quiz was developed with Pascale White, MD, MBA, MS, FACG, Director of Health Equity in Action for Liver and Digestive Diseases and Associate Professor of Medicine (Gastroenterology and Liver Disease) at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.

 

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Getting a Head Start With AI at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

Mar 2, 2026 | Artificial Intelligence, Featured, Research, School

Alvira Tyagi is a first-year medical student at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. She was part of a research team examining the limitations of ChatGPT Health in a study, which had findings published in Nature Medicine.

Most first-year medical students spend their time mastering anatomy, memorizing biochemical pathways, and adjusting to the pace of clinical training. For Alvira Tyagi, that first year coincided with an opportunity to understand the rapid transformation in how patients seek health information with AI tools.

“In January, OpenAI launched ChatGPT Health, and I was immediately curious as to how people were using it,” she says. ChatGPT Health is a service dedicated to answering health and wellness questions, with options to connect to medical records and wellness apps.

Within weeks of launch, OpenAI reported that more than 40 million people were using ChatGPT Health daily. “In a single day, this tool was engaging far more people than many major hospital systems see annually,” Ms. Tyagi notes. And barely into her first full year of medical training, Ms. Tyagi became involved in a study to examine the reliability of such AI tools for health recommendations, under the mentorship of Ashwin Ramaswamy, MD, an instructor in the Department of Urology.

“We set out to test how well ChatGPT Health handles clinical urgency—specifically, whether it steers users with serious symptoms toward emergency care,” she says. The research team, comprising several physicians and members from Mount Sinai’s Windreich Department of AI and Human Health (AIHH), conducted a study in which they posed clinical scenarios to ChatGPT Health and gauged how it triaged them, compared to gold-standard decisions from physicians following medical society recommendations.

ChatGPT Health, launched in January 2026, is a service on ChatGPT that lets users ask questions about health and wellness. In addition to asking the chatbot questions, users can also sync wearables to it or even upload lab results and ask it to explain the results.

The team found that textbook emergencies were correctly triaged. However, more than half of true emergencies were under-triaged, and the service’s suicide crisis safety alerts were inconsistent and lacking. The full findings, in an article with Ms. Tyagi as the second author, were published as “ChatGPT Health performance in a structured test of triage recommendations” in Nature Medicine in February.

“I did not expect to be involved in AI-driven health care research so early as a student,” says Ms. Tyagi. “Being part of work that could directly impact patient outcomes has been incredibly meaningful.” Read on to learn how she began working at the intersection of AI and health care, and the importance for students to be familiar with this rapidly evolving field.

How did this research project get started?

It started with me shadowing Dr. Ramaswamy in the Urology Department. In-between surgeries, we talked about our interests in AI in health care, and I learned we had a robust department at Mount Sinai that focused on AI and research. We continued having conversations about AI in health care, and when OpenAI released ChatGPT Health, the discussions intensified. Immediately, we were texting about the implications of this tool, which coalesced into the idea of a study to examine it. The project started out with the two of us, but with the help of leadership from AIHH, and other physicians, we managed to find collaborators and were able to begin the study quickly.

What was it like being on the research project as a student?

At first, I was intimidated. I was a first-year student working alongside physicians with far more experience in AI and clinical medicine than I had. It took some time to realize that I didn’t need to match their background to contribute meaningfully. I brought a different perspective. I could think through how someone my age would realistically use a tool like ChatGPT Health—how we’d phrase questions, what we might take at face value, and where misunderstandings could happen.

That lens helped us step outside a purely clinical viewpoint. We knew we needed to move quickly. From its release, ChatGPT Health was already being widely used, and we felt a responsibility to evaluate it while people were actively using it. We completed the data collection within two weeks because we wanted to better understand its safety profile and identify any potential limitations as early as possible. Our goal was not to diminish the value of AI in health care, but to approach it thoughtfully by examining where it performs well and where caution may be warranted.

I have always enjoyed writing, whether for leisure or through my work with my undergraduate newspapers—so it naturally became a larger part of my role in the project. In addition to contributing to data collection, I took on significant responsibility for drafting and editing the manuscript. This involved many late nights and multiple rounds of revisions, but I valued that process. Given that the tool was already being widely used, it was essential that we communicate our findings clearly, accurately, and with appropriate nuance.

I was genuinely excited to be part of the project, especially as a student stepping into the world of AI research for the first time. At the same time, I felt a deep sense of responsibility. I wanted to contribute meaningfully alongside experienced researchers, and I was acutely aware that our findings could influence how people understand and use this technology. That awareness pushed us to be especially rigorous. We carefully crafted our prompts and clinical scenarios to be as comprehensive and realistic as possible.

Was it hard balancing school work and being on this project?

My school work always came first, and I was careful to keep that as my priority. Because of that, much of the research work happened in the evenings. It could be demanding at times, but I truly enjoyed it. Being part of a project that was unfolding in real time, and working alongside people who made the process engaging and collaborative, felt energizing rather than exhausting.

What also made this project so meaningful was that it never felt disconnected from my education. It was a different kind of learning: hands-on, fast-paced, and collaborative. There was constant progress and discussion, and that experience offered something you simply cannot replicate in a classroom. The structure of the medical education program at the Icahn School of Medicine also helped tremendously. The flexibility and autonomy built into our curriculum made it possible to take on a project like this while staying on track academically. In the end, it was demanding, but it resulted in work I am genuinely proud of.

Should students be thinking about AI more?

As medical students, we’re trained to understand clinical systems and patient care. It can be easy to view AI as something reserved for computer science experts and engineers, and that it’s separate from us and the work we do as clinicians. But that is becoming less and less true by the day. Patients now have direct access to AI technology, and many will go to doctor appointments having already used them to research symptoms or interpret medical information. At the same time, in our current health care system, patients may wait months to see a physician. In that gap, AI tools can function as a kind of interim resource—offering information, reassurance, or sometimes misinformation—before a patient ever steps into a clinic.

Because of this, it falls on us as future doctors to understand these AI health care technologies before patients come to see us. Understanding and discussing the AI-generated information a patient has already seen may soon become a routine part of taking a patient history. We cannot effectively counsel patients about tools they are using if we do not understand how those tools work, what their limitations are, and where they may fall short. As part of a generation of physicians training alongside these technologies, we have a responsibility not only to react to AI’s presence in medicine, but to engage with it thoughtfully and proactively.

What advice do you have for students who are interested in AI research?

For students who are not sure whether they can even get started, you absolutely can. You don’t need to be an engineer or have years of technical experience to contribute meaningfully. AI research, especially in health care, needs people who can think critically, ask good questions, and communicate clearly. Then, for those who aren’t sure how to get started, start having conversations—with classmates, professors, and doctors. A simple conversation in between patient cases is what transformed my shadowing experience at the Urology Department into this research project. There are so many talented scientists and faculty at Mount Sinai, and simply engaging with them by asking questions, sharing your interests, and expressing curiosity, can open doors.

Sometimes all it takes is one thoughtful conversation to set something much larger in motion. Being open to opportunities and willing to learn really makes a difference. I had never done AI research before this project, so stepping into it required me to get comfortable with not knowing everything. But I came to understand that AI is developing so quickly that no one has it completely figured out. Even people with years of experience are still asking questions and adjusting as the field evolves. That realization made it feel less about being an expert and more about being engaged. You don’t have to start with deep technical knowledge; you just have to be willing to listen, learn, and contribute where you can. In a space that’s changing this fast, humility and curiosity go a long way.

Colorectal Cancer Is Rising Among Younger People. Here’s What We Know.

Updated on Feb 18, 2026 | Featured, Gastroenterology, Your Health

Colorectal cancer (cancers of the colon and rectum) is now the leading cause of cancer death in the United States for both men and women under the age of 50. In 2018, the American Cancer Society changed their screening recommendation from age 50 to 45 because of the alarming increase in early-onset colorectal cancer (affecting those under 50 years old).

A recent study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) reported that colorectal cancer mortality has risen 1 percent annually since 2005, an increase that has now placed colorectal cancer as the No. 1 cause of cancer mortality in young adults. Experts don’t know why more younger people are getting colorectal cancer, but it’s clear that early-onset colorectal cancer is an important public health issue.

Pascale White, MD, MBA, MS, FACG

In this Q&A, Pascale White, MD, MBA, MS, FACG, Director of Health Equity in Action for Liver and Digestive Diseases (HEALD), and Associate Professor of Medicine (Gastroenterology and Liver Disease), Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, discusses warning signs younger people should look out for and when to see a doctor.

Why are many people in their 20s and 30s going undiagnosed with colorectal cancer?

Many young people may not have primary care doctors or are ignoring their symptoms. They may go to an urgent care center for strep throat or the flu but may be too embarrassed to discuss symptoms like rectal bleeding and may not be thinking they could have colorectal cancer. Regardless of how old you are, you should never ignore symptoms and should seek medical attention. Having a primary care doctor who could start a timely workup of the symptoms and make a referral to a gastroenterologist is critical to making the diagnosis early. The earlier colorectal cancer is diagnosed, the greater your chances are for survival.

Unfortunately, we are seeing that younger patients are being diagnosed with advanced stage colorectal cancer (stages III and IV). A majority of cases are occurring in the rectum and the distal (left) colon, which can present as rectal bleeding. That is why it is important not to delay seeing the doctor.

What increases my risks as a younger person?

While scientists do not have the exact answers, lifestyle and environmental factors are being investigated. Some studies have linked risk factors for early-onset colorectal cancer to obesity and alcohol intake. Note that these are similar risk factors for older adults too. Other risk factors include having a family history of colorectal cancer or having a hereditary condition like Lynch syndrome; not getting enough physical activity; using tobacco and eating a low-fiber diet high in processed foods.

A Colorectal Cancer Health and Screening Fair will be held at The Mount Sinai Hospital Friday, March 6, from 9 am to 3 pm. Click here to learn more.

Are certain groups more at risk than others?

Early-onset colorectal cancer is increasing in both men and women, but racial disparities exist. Although incidence among non-Hispanic white patients has shown a consistent increase, Black patients still have the highest overall incidence and lowest survival rates.

What type of family history puts me at risk?

The majority of young people who are getting early-onset colorectal cancer don’t have a family history of cancer. That said, any family history of colorectal cancer could be relevant. Knowing first-degree family history (mom/dad/brother/sister) helps your doctor determine if there is a higher risk. However, second-degree family history (aunts/uncles/grandparents/grandchildren/half siblings/nieces and nephews) can help spot potential patterns that might put you at risk. Mount Sinai has genetic counselors that can help identify these patterns.

What symptoms indicate that younger people should see a doctor?

A majority of younger people who are coming to see the doctor with early-onset colorectal cancer are symptomatic, and the most common symptoms are blood in stool and abdominal pain. Other symptoms include iron deficiency anemia, unintentional weight loss, and a change in bowel habits. Young people need to understand seeing blood in the stool (whether it is bright red blood or black stool) should not be ignored. Bleeding could be caused by something benign like hemorrhoids or something malignant like colorectal cancer. If you experience these symptoms, see a doctor as soon as possible. If colorectal cancer is caught early, your chances of survival are higher.

Should I Be Worried About Changes in My Stool?

How can I reduce my risk?

Some things may not be in your complete control. For example, we are investigating whether there are certain environmental exposures that put younger people at risk. That said, there are actions you can take regardless of age that reduce overall risk for colorectal cancer. These include eating a well-balanced diet of high-fiber foods (fruits, vegetables, nuts, legumes, and whole grains); reducing your intake of processed foods, especially processed meat; reducing alcohol intake; getting regular exercise; and monitoring any health conditions you have, such as diabetes and obesity​.

What is a colonoscopy?

A colonoscopy is a safe and effective procedure where a doctor uses a camera to examine the lining of the colon and rectum for growths called polyps and/or other abnormalities, including colorectal cancer. During the examination, you are given some sedation to keep you comfortable. If polyps are found, they are removed and sent to a pathologist for evaluation. Some polyps are benign while others could be precancerous. The type of polyps removed will determine when the colonoscopy should be repeated in the future.

Will my insurance cover it?

Insurance companies cover colonoscopies for people who are 45 years and older for screening colonoscopies. A screening colonoscopy is what the procedure is called when it is being done on a patient who has no symptoms. If you are under age 45 but are experiencing symptoms, you would be sent for a diagnostic colonoscopy because the procedure is being done to find the diagnosis that would explain the symptoms. In either case, we encourage patients to communicate with their insurance company prior to procedures to ensure they will cover the cost.

How can I get a colonoscopy if I don’t have insurance?

Call your health provider to see what resources may be available for free or low-cost colonoscopies. They can help navigate patients to centers that accommodate people who do not have insurance.

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