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Movement Disorders Center

What are Movement Disorders?

Movement disorders are neurological conditions that cause abnormal and involuntary movements and postures. Our Movement Disorders Center offers a global approach in the diagnosis and treatment of Parkinson's disease (PD), Parkinson's-related syndromes, dystonia, tremor, tics, hemifacial spasm and spasticity.

Parkinson's Disease Information, Referral, and Support

Glenbrook Hospital is the site of a wonderful resource for patients with Parkinson's disease, two PD information and referral centers supported by the American Parkinson Disease Association (APDA): 

  • The National Young-Onset Parkinson's Information & Referral Center is the only center in the United States that focuses exclusively on the needs of patients with young-onset Parkinson's disease (ages 21-50).  Call 1.800.223.9776.
     

    Michael Rezak, MD, PhD, Director of the Movement Disorders Center and Movement Disorders Functional Neurosurgery Program at ENH, with Janet Reno, former attorney general of the United States. Both spoke at a March 2005 symposium presented by the Midwest Chapter of the American Parkison's Disease Association.

  • The Midwest Regional Parkinson's Center provides information and referrals to patients and families in Illinois and Northwest Indiana.  Call 847.657.5787 or 1.800.223.9776.

ENH and the APDA sponsor the Glenbrook Hospital Parkinson's Disease Support Group.  This support group provides education and support for patients with Parkinson`s disease and their significant others.  Visit our online calendar and enter “Parkinson” to search for meeting dates and times for this support group.

Treatment Options

For patients with certain movement disorders that have not responded to medication, we offer the option of brain surgery to reduce the movement related difficulties.  Most surgeries are done for patients with Parkinson's disease, but surgery also can help treat dystonia and some forms of tremor.  We have an experienced team of neurosurgeons, neurologists, neurophysiologists, and nurses that has performed over two hundred of these surgeries since 1995.  The majority of surgeries are for deep brain stimulation, a procedure which involves placing stimulating electrodes deep inside the brain, which are then connected to and controlled by an electrical pulse generator placed in the chest area.

For patients with uncontrollable involuntary movements or postures, muscle spasticity, and dystonia, we offer the option of treatment with botulinum toxin (Botox® ) to reduce the activity of the specific muscles involved in producing these unwanted muscle contractions. 

Research

The Movement Disorders Center is actively involved in research to provide better care and treatment for patients with movement disorders.  With the support of the Parkinson's Disease Research Society (PDRS), we have launched the Parkinson's Disease Early Detection Center.  The goal of this center is to understand the genetic and environmental risk factors for PD, and to develop tests that can accurately diagnose PD as early as possible, years before patients show the movement problems of PD and would normally be diagnosed.  The promise of drugs that may slow down PD by protecting the remaining nerve cells makes early detection of PD very important.  Our other research involves several ongoing clinical trials of drugs for PD, and research into the outcomes of movement disorders surgeries.  For questions about any of our research projects, please call 847.657.5334.