Neurology
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Burcu Polat
Languages: Turkish English
Areas of expertise
- Headache, Migraine, Trigeminal Neuralgia, and Vertigo
- Myofascial Pain and Other Pain Syndromes
- Dry Needling, Acupuncture, GON Block, and Botulinum Toxin Treatments
- Neuromodulation and Neurorehabilitation
- Dementia and Other Neurodegenerative Diseases
- Stroke and Related Neurological Conditions
- Preventive Neurology
About
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Burcu Polat is a neurologist at NPİSTANBUL Hospital with a particular focus on headache and preventive neurology. She holds European Board Certification in Neurology.
Training and career
A 2000 medical graduate of Fırat University School of Medicine, she finished her neurology specialist training in 2009 at Bakırköy Hospital for Mental and Nervous Disorders. For many years afterwards her academic and clinical career was based at Istanbul Medipol Mega University Hospital. With close to a decade of experience behind her, she then chaired the Department of Neurology at Düzce University Faculty of Medicine from 2023 to 2026.
Clinical interests
- Migraine and other head and facial pain
- Myofascial pain syndromes
- Vertigo
- Neuromodulation
- Stroke
- Dementia syndromes
In her practice she pairs the scientific approach of modern neurology with complementary methods. Using specialised techniques such as dry needling, electroacupuncture, nerve blocks and botulinum toxin injections, she aims to give each patient a personalised and sustainable treatment plan.
Research
Dr. Polat’s research covers clinical and neuroepidemiological studies of migraine and other headaches; prevention and treatment of dementia and related neurodegenerative diseases; neurorehabilitation; neuromodulation; chronic pain management; smell and taste disorders; and medical education. Preventive and therapeutic strategies for neurodegenerative conditions, Alzheimer’s disease above all, remain an active area of her work.
She is a member of the Turkish Neurological Society, the International Headache Society, the Global Migraine and Pain Society and the National Headache and Pain Research Society. Following new scientific developments closely, she cares for her patients with a holistic, evidence-based approach.
Education
- 2026–2027: Certificate of Advanced Studies in Brain Health—University of Bern, Switzerland / EAN
- 2021: European Academy of Neurology – FEBN
- 2021: European Board of Neurology – Headache Fellowship Diploma
- 2003–2009: Bakırköy Training and Research Hospital for Psychiatric and Neurological Diseases, Istanbul – Neurology Residency
- 1994–2000: Fırat University – Faculty of Medicine
Conditions treated
Other specialists in this field
- Assoc. Prof. Dr. Cahide Yılmaz
- Asst. Prof. Dr. Önder Kuzu
- Dr. Celal Şalçini
- Prof. Dr. A. Oğuz Tanrıdağ
- Prof. Dr. Sultan Tarlacı
- Prof. Dr. Barış Metin