Services

• Autoimmune Encephalopathy Clinic
• Cognitive & Movement Disorder
• Huntington’s Disease & Ataxia Clinic

Autoimmune Encephalopathy Clinic

The UCSF Autoimmune Encephalopathy/Encephalitis Clinic specializes in the evaluation and care of patients who are experiencing problems with cognition (e.g., thinking, memory), movement, and/or incoordination possibly due to brain inflammation or rapidly progressive dementia. Our particular focus is on encephalitis syndromes associated with specific antibodies that target brain cells. Such syndromes include reactions against brain cells, brain cellular channels and paraneoplastic syndromes that can result from cancer cells in the body. Our clinicians also evaluate patients with suspected thyroid-associated cognitive difficulty (“Hashimoto’s Encephalitis”) and cognitive trouble associated with systemic inflammatory or rheumatologic diseases.

The clinic offers a multidisciplinary approach with attending neurologists Dr. Michael Geschwind, who is an expert in behavioral neurology, and Dr. Jeffrey Gelfand, who is an expert in neuroimmunology from the UCSF Multiple Sclerosis and Neuroinflammation Center, as well as neuropsychologists (who measure cognitive abilities), experienced and caring social workers and nurses, as well as clinic assistants who coordinate laboratory testing. If appropriate, recommendations and possibly implementation of immunosuppressive treatment can be provided. The clinic is committed to the timely evaluation of people with acute syndromes, as well as following up after a hospital discharge and long-term management of these disorders. When appropriate, the clinic also collaborates closely with research efforts advancing precision medicine diagnostics in encephalitis and autoimmune dementia and may offer research opportunities to patients.

Cognitive & Movement Disorder

The UCSF Neurogenetics Cognitive & Movement Disorder Clinic seeks to serve the needs of adult patients with known neurogenetic conditions, as well as patients with neurological conditions of suspected but unconfirmed genetic or familial etiology. Examples of conditions that are evaluated in this clinic include adult genetic metabolic disorders, ataxias, mitochondrial disorders, leukoencephalopathies, Huntington’s disease and atypical parkinsonian disorders. Although the clinic focuses on adults, pediatric cases are considered. Our neurologists include Drs. Michael Geschwind, Alexandra Nelson and Cameron Dietiker. Medical records can be sent by mail or may be faxed to the numbers provided on the referral form (see the Make a Referral page). Upon review, patients will be contacted regarding an appointment.

For more information on making an appointment, please see the Memory and Aging Center Clinic.

Huntington’s Disease & Ataxia Clinics

The UCSF Memory and Aging Center (MAC) Huntington’s Disease and Ataxia Clinics provide care to patients and families experiencing and/or at risk for Huntington’s disease (HD) and spinocerebellar ataxias (SCAs), as well as other forms of hereditary or sporadic neurodegenerative ataxia, such as multiple system atrophy (MSA). Our neurologists include Drs. Michael Geschwind, Alexandra Nelson and Cameron Dietiker. The clinics’ interdisciplinary team works with patients and caregivers to improve their lives by creating comprehensive treatment plans. We understand that the challenges of living with HD, SCA or other ataxias can extend beyond the signs and symptoms of the disease, and we work to provide integrated care to our families with these diseases.

The UCSF Movement Disorders and Neuromodulation Clinic (MDNC) also evaluates patients with various movement disorders including ataxia and MSA.

Our experience and expertise led the UCSF MAC HD Clinic to be recognized in 2015 as a Huntington’s Disease Society of America Center of Excellence (HDSA COE), co-directed by Drs. Geschwind and Nelson. In addition, in 2023, the UCSF MAC Ataxia Clinic was also recognized as a National Ataxia Foundation Center of Excellence (NAF COE).

Meet our team.

HD and Ataxia Clinic Services

• Genetic counseling & testing
• Symptom management & drug therapy
• Support groups & psychiatric care
• Physical therapy consultation
• Long-term care planning
• Palliative care support

For more information, please call 415.353.2057. To be evaluated in the clinic requires a referral from a physician. Please see the Make a Referral page for information about the referral process.

The UCSF MAC is an active member of the Huntington Study Group (HSG) and the Clinical Research Consortium for Spinocerebellar Ataxias (CRC-SCA). We provide opportunities for participation in several observational and interventional research studies for HD, SCAs, and MSA. If you are interested in participating in or learning more about research, please contact us at [email protected].

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