Anelyssa D’Abreu

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Get to know Neurologist Dr. Anelyssa D’Abreu, who serves patients in Providence, Rhode Island.

Dr. D’Abreu is a board-certified neurologist who serves as the Co-Director of the Movement Disorders Program at Rhode Island Hospital in Providence, Rhode Island. She is proficient in botulinum toxin injections and evaluation for deep brain stimulation in the treatment of movement disorders. 

She joined Rhode Island Hospital after leading the Movement Disorders Center at the University of Campinas in Brazil for 7 years. During this period, she trained 6 neurologists in movement disorders and directly supervised the execution of multiple research projects. She also co-directed the Neurogenetics and Huntington’s Disease Outpatient Clinics following patients with hereditary ataxias, spastic paraparesis, and Huntington’s disease.

Alongside her clinical role, Dr. D’Abreu serves as an Associate Professor of Neurology at the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University. 

After earning her medical degree from the University of Campinas in Brazil, she relocated to the United States to complete her residency at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. This was followed by a fellowship at the Memorial Hospital of Rhode Island. Afterward, she pursued a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Neuroscience from the University of Campinas and a Master of Public Health degree with a focus on Quantitative Methods from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

A member of the Brazilian Academy of Neurology, the American Academy of Neurology, and the International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society, the doctor is board-certified in neurology by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (ABPN). The ABPN is a not-for-profit corporation dedicated to promoting high-quality patient care for the public through the initial and continuing certification of psychiatrists and neurologists. 

Neurology is a branch of medicine dealing with disorders of the nervous system. Neurologists are licensed medical specialists who diagnose and treat disorders that affect the brain, spinal cord, nerves, and muscles of patients. They examine a patient’s mental and physical status, conduct medical tests and scans, and evaluate the results to diagnose and treat the patient.

Recognized as an expert in her field, Dr. D’Abreus’ work has been published in more than 50 peer-reviewed journals, books, and book chapters. Her research interests include Parkinson’s disease, dystonias, and spinocerebellar ataxias. 

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