Neurodegenerative Disorders

UT Southwestern Medical Center offers expertise in diagnosing neurodegenerative disorders and a comprehensive approach to caring for people with these devastating diseases. 

Our patients have access to a multidisciplinary team of expert physicians and health care providers, leading research, and a complete array of neurodiagnostic tests to provide the most accurate diagnoses and compassionate, effective care.

Comprehensive Care, Individualized Approaches

Neurodegenerative disorders encompass a wide range of conditions that result from progressive damage to cells and nervous system connections that are essential for mobility, coordination, strength, sensation, and cognition. 

Neurodegenerative diseases affect millions of people worldwide. Although there isn’t a complete cure for most of these complex neurological diseases, UT Southwestern offers comprehensive, individualized treatment to help patients manage them. 

UT Southwestern is actively involved in the latest research and technology to offer therapies and rehabilitation services that improve symptoms, increase mobility, and enhance the quality of life of patients and family members.

Conditions

Neurodegenerative disorders include:

• Alzheimer’s disease and other memory disorders
  
• Ataxia
  
• Huntington’s disease
  
• Parkinson’s disease
  
• Motor neuron disease
  
• Multiple system atrophy
  
• Progressive supranuclear palsy
  

Symptoms of Neurodegenerative Disorders

With their progression, these disorders can affect every aspect of a person’s life, such as:

• Mobility and balance
  
• Abnormal movements
  
• Swallowing
  
• Bladder and bowel function
  
• Blood pressure fluctuation
  
• Sleep
  
• Breathing
  
• Heart function
  
• Memory and cognitive abilities
  
• Mood
  
• Speech
  

Treatment

UT Southwestern offers a multidisciplinary team approach to rehabilitation to address the physical and psychological management of neurodegenerative diseases. 

Patients receive care from a complete team, including:

• Neurologists
  
• Physiatrists
  
• Physical therapists
  
• Speech pathologists
  
• Sleep specialists
  
• Urologists
  
• Otolaryngologists
  
• Psychiatrists
  
• Cardiologists
  
• Respiratory therapists
  
• Pulmonologists
  
• Psychologists
  
• Dietitians
  
• Social workers 

Our multidisciplinary treatment program strives to help every patient find ways to participate in activities at work, at home, and in the community.

Research

Through our Peter O’Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, UT Southwestern scientists are spearheading internationally recognized research to understand these devastating disorders. Our clinicians and clinician scientists are involved in national and international research trials dealing with slowing the progression of neurodegenerative disorders as well as finding their causes, which can potentially lead to cures.