Specialists in the Neurogenetic Disorders Program, part of the University of Michigan Health System provide diagnosis and comprehensive care for individuals and families with inherited and degenerative neurological disorders.
Patients and their family members are referred from around the world by primary care physicians, neurologists and national organizations. Individuals seeking evaluation can also contact our clinic directly. Our dedicated team of professionals has world-class expertise in neurogenetic disorders both in treating subjects with these conditions and performing laboratory research to advance knowledge of these disorders and develop better treatments. We treat all forms of genetic neurological disorders, including:
- Ataxia including spinocerebellar ataxias, olivopontocerebellar atrophies, and multiple system degeneration
- CADASIL (Cerebral Autosomal Dominant Arteriopathy with Sub-cortical Infarcts and Leukoencephalopathy)
- Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (hereditary neuropathy)
- Cognitive disorders, including familial Alzheimer's disease and other familial dementias including frontotemporal dementia, familial Pick’s disease, familial Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease
- Familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (familial ALS also known as Lou Gehrig's disease)
- Familial dystonia including Dopa-responsive dystonia
- Fragile X and Fragile X associated Tremor Ataxia Syndrome (FXTAS)
- Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia
- Huntington's disease
- Leukodystrophy including adrenomyeloneuropathy and cerebrotendinous xanthomatosis
- Lysosomal storage disorders including Gaucher, Niemann-Pick, and Fabry diseases
- Mitochondrial encephalomyopathies (MELAS syndrome)
- Mucopolysaccharidoses
- Neurofibromatosis
- Primary Lateral Sclerosis
- Tourette's syndrome
- Tuberous sclerosis
- Von-Hippel-Lindau disease
- Wilsons disease
Diagnoses are established by reviewing medical records, studying the family history, interviewing and examining affected individuals, and obtaining additional testing as needed (such as genetic testing and neuro-imaging). Following diagnosis, treatment plans and long-term follow-up are established. Individuals and their family members are provided information about the disorder, genetic counseling (upon request), and referrals for additional information including disease-specific support groups. As requested, opportunities to participate in clinical and basic research studies are discussed.
In addition to providing care and evaluation for individuals who are affected with an inherited neurologic disorder, we also provide information and counseling for family members who, though unaffected, may be at-risk of inheriting the disorder occurring in their family.