Movement Disorders

The UCSF Movement Disorders and Neuromodulation Center provides surgical management of patients with movement disorders, including but not limited to: Parkinson’s disease; dystonia (pediatric and adult, including spasmodic torticollis); essential tremor; post-stroke tremor; spasticity (pediatric and adult); and severe obsessive compulsive disorder. We are one of the busiest deep brain stimulation (DBS) implanting centers on the West Coast, with over 1,000 patient visits per year.

Our faculty have also developed a novel method of DBS implantation, which is done within an MRI scanner and uses an innovative skull-mounted aiming device. This technique offers real-time imaging to guide electrode placement and can be performed while patients are under general anesthesia.

Our faculty also perform high-intensity focus ultrasound for patients with essential tremor or tremor-dominate Parkinson's disease.

All patients will be evaluated at the UCSF Movement Disorder and Neuromodulation Center will receive state-of-the-art and comprehensive care provided by a team of multidisciplinary staff including neurologists, neurosurgeons, neuropsychologists, psychiatrists, and nurses with specialized training movement disorders.

The UCSF Movement Disorders and Neuromodulation Center also has an active clinical research and basic science research program aimed at further understanding the pathophysiology of movement disorders, identification of structural and functional brain changes, the development of novel DBS implantation techniques, the use of gene therapy in Parkinson’s disease, the evaluation of patient outcomes after deep brain stimulation treatment, and developing adaptive DBS therapy. 

• Starr Lab
• Wang Lab