Procedure Volume Patient Data Patient Conditions Reviews Back to Top

As an affiliate of BetterHelp, DocSpot may receive a commission if you purchase services through this link.

Home > TN Providers

Dr. Matthew Stephen Schrag, PHD, MD

(102 Ratings)

Specializes in: Vascular Neurology and Behavioral Neurology & Neuropsychiatry

Loma Linda University School of Medicine (2011)

Professional interests include: stroke, neurological disorders, dementia, and more.

1161 21st Avenue South A-0118 Medical Center North
Nashville-Davidson, TN 37232

(615) 322-3000

Dr. Matthew Stephen Schrag, PHD, MD is a vascular neurologist in Nashville-Davidson, TN specializing in vascular neurology and behavioral neurology & neuropsychiatry. He graduated from Loma Linda University School of Medicine in 2011 and has 13 years of experience. Dr. Matthew Stephen Schrag, PHD, MD is affiliated with Vanderbilt Health, Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) and Ballad Health.

Office Locations

Address:

1161 21st Avenue South A-0118 Medical Center North
Nashville-Davidson, TN 37232

Address:

1301 Medical Center Drive Suite 3930
Nashville, TN 37232

Address:

3601 The Vanderbilt Clinic Neurology Suite
Nashville, TN 37232

Therapy on Your Terms

Connecting with a therapist can be difficult. BetterHelp can help with that. They have an online network of licensed and accredited psychologists, marriage and family therapists, clinical social workers, and counselors. You can connect with their therapists via online video, phone, real-time chat, or asynchronous messaging. Easily switch therapists until you find one that fits you. Sign up through DocSpot for a discount on your first month's subscription.

Save 20% on

As an affiliate of BetterHelp, DocSpot may receive a commission if you purchase services through this link.

Some issues Dr. Matthew Stephen Schrag, PHD, MD can help you with:

Stroke

A stroke is a medical emergency that occurs when a blood vessel supplying oxygen and nutrients to the brain is ruptured or blocked. The brain cannot function without a steady supply of oxygen and nutrients, so when the blood supply to the brain is interrupted, even for a brief moment, brain cells begin to die. When a sufficient number of brain cells die, the brain itself can no longer function, meaning that strokes are very dangerous. Strokes can result in impaired movement, speech, cognitive ability, the impairment of important physical functions, and even death.

Anyone can have a stroke, regardless of age and health. Strokes are known to happen at random. However, certain conditions and behaviors can increase one's risk of stroke over time.

Risk factors for stroke include:

Heart disease
Older age
Smoking
Diabetes
High blood pressure
High blood cholesterol and lipids

There are two main types of stroke: ischemic stroke and hemorrhagic stroke. Ischemic stroke occurs more commonly and is when a blood vessel in the brain becomes blocked. Blockages are caused by blood clots and built-up plaque (deposits of fat and cholesterol), which leads to atherosclerosis, a condition where the blood vessels narrow and harden. The resultant restricted blood flow may lead to an ischemic stroke by blocking essential oxygen to the brain, causing the heart to exert more effort to pump blood.

Hemorrhagic stroke occurs when a blood vessel in or around the brain ruptures. The burst vessel leaks blood into surrounding brain tissue, causing irreparable brain damage.

Hemorrhagic strokes are less common and may occur from head injuries, brain aneurysms, brain tumors, and bleeding disorders, amongst other conditions.

Both ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes require immediate medical treatment. Medical intervention can prevent severe and life-threatening brain damage. Signs of stroke include:

-Disorientation or confusion

-Difficulty speaking

-Difficulty walking

-Impaired vision

-Weakness in the face, legs, or arms

-Severe headaches

When someone suspected of having a stroke reaches the hospital, the patient will usually receive a CT or other scan that provides an image of the brain. The scan results can reveal clotted or leaking blood in the brain. Physical exams, neurological exams, and blood tests may also be used to check for blood clotting and sugar. Treatment begins generally immediately if a stroke is detected.

Medical treatment for ischemic strokes includes a thrombolytic medicine which breaks up and disperses blood clots. This medicine can greatly improve stroke recovery and long-term health. However, the thrombolytic medicine must be administered as soon as possible to achieve these results. Other treatments for ischemic strokes are blood thinners and thrombectomy, a surgical procedure to remove a blood clot in the brain. Thrombectomy is performed by inserting a catheter (thin needle) into the artery to reach the blood clot and mechanically remove it. With the clot removed, normal blood flow to the brain resumes. Thrombectomy is typically performed at most six hours after a patient shows signs of a stroke.

Hemorrhagic strokes are treated with blood-saving medication and surgery. For a hemorrhagic stroke caused by the rupture of an aneurysm (blood vessel bulges), surgery to stem the bleeding aneurysm and vessel may be used. One surgical technique is stent-assisted coiling, which adds a stent (small wire-meshed tube) into the blood vessel to block the leaking opening of the aneurysm. A non-surgical procedure is endovascular coiling, where a catheter (thin, hollow needle) places a platinum wire coil at the spot of the aneurysm. The coil blocks bleeding and prevents the aneurysm from continuing to leak blood. These procedures are usually combined with blood-thickening medications. Blood transfusions may be administered if substantial blood loss has occurred.

Since stroke patients may have lost some essential functions while the blood flow to their brains was obstructed, both ischemic stroke and hemorrhage stroke patients may receive post-stroke rehabilitation to rebuild their physical and mental abilities. Some restorative treatments include occupational, physical, and speech therapy. Patients may also receive care from neurologists, who can assist patients in recovering certain brain functions and cognitive abilities, and rehabilitation psychologists, who may help patients with their emotional, behavioral, and cognitive recovery. Some stroke patients require lengthy rehabilitation and may never fully regain function, while others may recover more quickly. While the fastest recovery improvements are usually seen in the first three or four months, stroke rehabilitation can last for years.

If someone begins to show signs of stroke, contact emergency services and call 9-1-1 immediately since blood flow must be restored as soon as possible to help avoid significant brain damage. If an ambulance takes the person to the hospital, paramedics can initiate stroke treatment as soon as the patient enters the ambulance, allowing for more prompt medical intervention and care.

In The News (see more mentions in the news)

“"Clearly, it is more than just an imaging abnormality," said Dr. Matthew Schrag, a Vanderbilt University neurologist, who helped with an autopsy that concluded Lane died of brain swelling and...”—"New drug's potentially fatal side effects obscured by 'soothing acronym,' doctors say", The Columbian, June 2024

“That shows the harm in the drawn-out university investigation and the journal's retractions, said Dr. Matthew Schrag, a neurologist who scrutinized the Alzheimer's paper in 2022 outside of his role...”—"Landmark University of Minnesota papers on Alzheimer's disease and stem cells retracted", Star Tribune, June 2024

“"It's quite unusual to see this volume of retractions, corrections and expressions of concern, especially in high-tier influential papers," said Dr. Matthew Schrag, an assistant professor of...”—"Star USC scientist faces scrutiny - retracted papers and a paused drug trial", Boston Herald, May 2024

doctor visit	8
hospital care	40
inpatient care	40

**Gender**
Male	31
Female	25

**Age**
From 65 to 74	25
From 75 to 84	15
85 and over	0
Less than 65	0

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	71
Stroke	75
Ischemic Heart Disease	61
Depression	38
Chronic Kidney Disease	45
Asthma	29
Osteoperosis	0
Atrial Fibrilation	29
Heart Failure	36
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	25
Diabetes	48
Dementia	29
Cancer	0

doctor visit	41
hospital care	121
inpatient care	121

**Gender**
Male	63
Female	48

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	98
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	47
From 75 to 84	31
85 and over	15
Less than 65	18

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	74
Stroke	75
Ischemic Heart Disease	57
Depression	40
Chronic Kidney Disease	58
Asthma	0
Osteoperosis	0
Atrial Fibrilation	29
Heart Failure	29
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	14
Diabetes	50
Dementia	40
Cancer	14

doctor visit	102
hospital care	83
inpatient care	83

**Gender**
Male	79
Female	61

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	122
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	60
From 75 to 84	39
85 and over	13
Less than 65	28

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	69
Stroke	75
Ischemic Heart Disease	49
Depression	36
Chronic Kidney Disease	50
Asthma	0
Osteoperosis	0
Atrial Fibrilation	20
Heart Failure	27
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	15
Diabetes	40
Dementia	30
Cancer	9

doctor visit	84
hospital care	85
inpatient care	85

**Gender**
Male	63
Female	60

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	112
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	64
From 75 to 84	35
85 and over	0
Less than 65	0

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	68
Stroke	75
Ischemic Heart Disease	55
Depression	35
Chronic Kidney Disease	46
Asthma	0
Osteoperosis	0
Atrial Fibrilation	28
Heart Failure	26
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	18
Diabetes	38
Dementia	30
Cancer	9

doctor visit	76

**Gender**
Male	52
Female	36

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	75
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	44
From 75 to 84	29
85 and over	0
Less than 65	0

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	68
Stroke	61
Ischemic Heart Disease	56
Depression	26
Chronic Kidney Disease	57
Asthma	0
Osteoperosis	0
Atrial Fibrilation	19
Heart Failure	23
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	0
Diabetes	44
Dementia	32
Cancer	0

doctor visit	206
hospital care	11
inpatient care	11

Average Medicare Procedure Volume From 2016 - 2021

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Matthew Stephen Schrag, PHD, MD for Medicare patients.

The highest averages for the top procedures that Dr. Matthew Stephen Schrag, PHD, MD treated as a vascular neurologist in Nashville-Davidson, TN were hospital care and inpatient care.

doctor visit	87
hospital care	68
inpatient care	68

Average Medicare Patient Data From 2016 - 2021

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Matthew Stephen Schrag, PHD, MD.

**Gender**
Female	23
Male	28

**Ethnicity**
Black / African American	0
Asian / Pacific Islander	0
Non-Hispanic White	40
Hispanic	0
Native American / Alaskan Native	0
Other	0

**Age**
85 and over	2
75 to 84	14
Less than 65	4
65 to 74	24

Average of Total of Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Matthew Stephen Schrag, PHD, MD From 2016 - 2021

The highest averages of the most common conditions of Medicare patients that Dr. Matthew Stephen Schrag, PHD, MD treated were hypertension, stroke, high cholesterol and ischemic heart disease.

Hypertension	37
High Cholesterol	35
Stroke	36
Ischemic Heart Disease	27
Depression	17
Chronic Kidney Disease	25
Asthma	2
Osteoporosis	0
Heart Failure	14
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	7
Diabetes	22
Atrial Fibrillation	12
Dementia	16
Cancer	3

Education & Training

Dr. Matthew Stephen Schrag, PHD, MD graduated from Loma Linda University School of Medicine in 2011. He completed residency at Yale-New Haven Hospital. He is certified by the Neurology - American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology and has a state license in Tennessee.

Medical School: Loma Linda University School of Medicine (2011)

Residency: Yale-New Haven Hospital (2015)

Board Certification: Neurology - American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (2015)

Licensed In: Tennessee

Affiliations & Hospitals

Dr. Matthew Stephen Schrag, PHD, MD is associated with these hospitals and organizations:

Vanderbilt Health

Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC)

Ballad Health

Ratings & Reviews

Dr. Matthew Stephen Schrag, PHD, MD has an exceptional overall rating with an average of 4.9 out of 5 stars based on 102 ratings. We collect ratings and reviews of Dr. Matthew Stephen Schrag, PHD, MD from all over the web to help you find the right in Nashville-Davidson, TN.

4.9

Overall Rating

(102 Ratings)

Leave a Review

Biography

Dr. Matthew Schrag's areas of specialization are vascular neurology and behavioral neurology & neuropsychiatry. He has a special interest in stroke. He is a graduate of Loma Linda University School of Medicine. Dr. Schrag is affiliated with Ballad Health and Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC).