Movement Disorders
The Movement Disorders Center at The University of North Carolina Hospitals is a subspecialty program of the UNC Department of Neurology and a designated Parkinson’s Foundation Center of Excellence. The UNC Movement Disorders Center is a multidisciplinary specialty group dedicated to providing individualized, compassionate and comprehensive care to our patients. We offer the latest diagnostic and state of the art treatment options for Parkinson’s disease and atypical parkinsonian syndromes (progressive supranuclear palsy, multiple system atrophy, cortical basal degeneration), as well as focal and generalized dystonia, tremor, myoclonus, tic disorders, restless legs syndrome, blepharospasm and hemifacial spasm.
In addition, we are committed to conducting both outstanding clinical and basic science research in Parkinson’s disease and other movement disorders, and then translating our research into advances in treatment in order to improve the lives of our patients and their families.
Our team provides valuable resources for patients, families and caregivers and the center’s members serve the community of North Carolina by providing outreach education and advisory services to lay organizations.
What are movement disorders?What are movement disorders?
Movement disorders are neurological conditions that affect the speed, fluency, quality and ease of movement. The disorders are associated with changes in the brain cells that help us move. These changes can cause involuntary or excessive movements, called hyperkinesias. Other changes in brain cell function can cause a lack of automatic and purposeful movements, not related to weakness or spasticity, called hypokinesia. Movement disorders include the following conditions:
- Parkinson’s disease
- Parkinsonian syndromes (progressive supranuclear palsy, multiple system atrophy, cortical basal degeneration)
- Tremor
- Dystonia
- Huntington’s disease
- Ataxia
- Myoclonus
- Restless legs syndrome
- Tics
- Tourette’s syndrome
- Wilson disease