Services
- Autoimmune Encephalopathy Clinic
- Cognitive and Movement Disorder Clinic
- Huntington’s Disease and Ataxia Clinic
Autoimmune Encephalopathy Clinic
The UCSF Autoimmune Encephalopathy/Encephalitis Clinic provides expert care for patients experiencing cognitive issues (such as memory and thinking problems), movement difficulties, or incoordination caused by brain inflammation or rapidly progressive dementia. The clinic specializes in autoimmune encephalitis syndromes linked to antibodies targeting brain cells, including paraneoplastic syndromes associated with cancer. Our clinicians also evaluate patients with suspected thyroid-associated cognitive difficulty (“Hashimoto’s Encephalitis”) and cognitive trouble associated with systemic inflammatory or rheumatologic diseases.
Our team is led by Dr. Michael Geschwind, an expert in behavioral neurology, and Dr. Jeffrey Gelfand, a neuroimmunology specialist from the UCSF Multiple Sclerosis and Neuroinflammation Center. The clinic also includes neuropsychologists, nurses, social workers, and clinic assistants who coordinate lab testing. If appropriate, we offer recommendations for and implementation of immunosuppressive treatments.
The clinic provides timely evaluations, including follow-up care after hospital discharge and long-term management. Patients may also have opportunities to participate in research advancing precision diagnostics for autoimmune dementia and encephalitis.
Cognitive and Movement Disorder Clinic
The UCSF Neurogenetics Cognitive & Movement Disorder Clinic focuses on adult patients with known neurogenetic conditions or suspected genetic or familial neurological disorders. Conditions evaluated include:
- Genetic metabolic disorders
- Ataxias
- Mitochondrial disorders
- Leukoencephalopathies
- Huntington’s disease
- Atypical parkinsonian disorders
Led by Drs. Michael Geschwind, Alexandra Nelson, and Cameron Dietiker, the clinic considers adult and select pediatric cases. Medical records should be sent via mail or fax as outlined on the Make a Referral page. Following review, patients will be contacted to schedule an appointment.
Huntington’s Disease and Ataxia Clinic
The UCSF Huntington’s Disease and Ataxia Clinic provides specialized care for patients and families affected by Huntington’s disease (HD), spinocerebellar ataxias (SCAs), and other hereditary or sporadic neurodegenerative ataxias, including multiple system atrophy (MSA).
Our interdisciplinary team, including Drs. Michael Geschwind, Alexandra Nelson, and Cameron Dietiker, works with patients and caregivers to develop personalized treatment plans that address both medical and emotional challenges. Services include:
- Genetic counseling and testing
- Symptom management and medication
- Support groups and psychiatric care
- Physical therapy consultation
- Long-term care planning
- Palliative care support
The UCSF Movement Disorders and Neuromodulation Clinic (MDNC) also evaluates patients with various movement disorders, including ataxia and MSA.
Recognitions
In 2015, the HD Clinic was named a Huntington’s Disease Society of America Center of Excellence (HDSA COE), co-directed by Drs. Geschwind and Nelson. In 2023, the Ataxia Clinic was recognized as a National Ataxia Foundation Center of Excellence (NAF COE).
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
Research Opportunities
The UCSF Fein MAC is an active member of the Huntington Study Group (HSG) and the Clinical Research Consortium for Spinocerebellar Ataxias (CRC-SCA). Patients have the opportunity to participate in observational and interventional research studies for HD, SCAs, and MSA. For more information about research opportunities, contact [email protected].
Other Helpful Resources
HD Resources
- Visit the UCSF MAC Huntington’s Disease and Ataxia Clinic
- The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) Huntington’s Disease Information Page
- Huntington’s disease support groups through UCSF
- Help4HD
- Huntington’s Disease Society of America (HDSA)
- Family Caregiver Alliance
- Adult Huntington’s disease on the Social Security Administration’s Compassionate Allowances Program
- I Have HD Card – Wallet-sized card that explains the diagnosis of HD
- Huntington Disease Observational Research (Enroll-HD)
- HD Trial Finder
- Clinical trials at UCSF
- ClinicalTrials.gov – a place to learn about clinical study opportunities around the world
Ataxia Resources
- Visit the UCSF MAC National Ataxia Foundation Center of Excellence
- NAF Newly Diagnosed Resource Sheet
- The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) Ataxia Information Page
- Support Group Listing
- Ataxia Treatment Pipeline
- SCASource – Ataxia research news, directly from researchers to the Ataxia community
- Ataxia Educational Webinars – A series of webinars specifically designed for patients and family members that focus on one ataxia type at a time.
- Ataxia Card – Wallet-sized card that explains the diagnosis of ataxia
- Ataxia Marketplace – A place to discover products that may be helpful to those living with ataxia
- Natural History Study of and Genetic Modifiers in Spinocerebellar Ataxias
- Ataxia-Focused Research Studies
- Clinical trials at UCSF
- ClinicalTrials.gov – a place to learn about clinical study opportunities around the world
MSA Resources
- Mission MSA
- The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) Multiple System Atrophy Information Page
- Rhythmic ReminiscenceTM movement and music program
- Clinical trials at UCSF
- ClinicalTrials.gov – a place to learn about clinical study opportunities around the world
Contact Information and Appointments
To be evaluated in any specialty clinic, a referral is required from your physician. For referral instructions, visit the Make a Referral page.
For inquiries or appointments, please contact:
Phone: 415.353.2057
Fax: 415.353.8292
The UCSF Fein Memory and Aging Center is committed to providing expert care and advancing research for patients and families affected by neurological conditions.
