The UCSF Edward and Pearl Fein Memory and Aging Center’s Outpatient Genetic Counseling Clinic offers specialized genetic counseling for patients and families affected by or at risk for inherited neurodegenerative conditions. This clinic serves individuals who have been diagnosed and are seeking genetic testing to identify the cause of their symptoms and understand family risk, as well as healthy individuals seeking genetic testing to assess their future risk for inherited conditions.
Clinic Affiliations
This clinic is connected to the following specialty services at the Fein Memory and Aging Center:
- Neurogenetics Cognitive and Movement Disorder Clinic
- Huntington’s Disease Clinic
Genetic Counselor: Liya Rabkina, MSc
Affiliation: Huntington’s Disease Society of America (HDSA) Center of Excellence
Services Offered
The Genetic Counseling Clinic provides the following services:
- Pre-test and post-test genetic counseling
- Ordering certain genetic tests, if appropriate
Eligibility
- Adults (18 and older): Individuals with or without a diagnosis and/or family history of:
- Individuals under 18: Referrals available for confirming or excluding juvenile Huntington’s disease
Referral Indications
The clinic is appropriate for patients who meet the following criteria:
- Suspected inherited forms of dementia or neurodegenerative conditions
- Family members have been diagnosed with inherited dementia or neurodegenerative conditions
- Limited family history, but concerns about inherited neurodegenerative conditions
Contact Information
For referrals or questions, please contact the UCSF Memory and Aging Center Clinic:
Phone: 415.353.2057
Referrals from within UCSF may be sent via APeX to the Edward and Pearl Fein Memory and Aging Center.
Visit the Make a Referral page for detailed referral instructions and information about the process.
Resources
- This GENETICS 101 guide offers a basic overview of genetic principles, including inheritance and how genes influence health. It provides a foundational background, as advances in genomics and clinical practice have outpaced its original publication.
- This fact sheet from the National Institute on Aging explains how genetics influences Alzheimer's disease risk within a broader framework of aging, biology, and environment.
- This National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke overview provides a broad, evidence-based introduction to dementia, including its causes, symptoms, and progression. It explains that genetics is one of several risk factors—alongside age, vascular health, and lifestyle—and emphasizes that most dementia is multifactorial rather than inherited.