Progressive Supranuclear Palsy & Atypical Parkinsonism Center of Excellence
In response to the growing need for specialized care and research in this field, our team came together in 2010 to consolidate existing resources and advance efforts toward establishing a Center of Excellence for Progressive Supranuclear Palsy and Atypical Parkinsonian Disorders. Today, the Center is recognized as a CurePSP Center of Care.
About the center
This interdisciplinary clinic is led by Dr. Nikolaus McFarland, Associate Professor of Neurology, in collaboration with the University of Florida’s Fixel Institute for Neurological Diseases: Movement Disorders and Neurorestoration Program and Dr. Chris Hass from the College of Health and Human Performance. These renowned experts jointly direct the PSP/Atypical Parkinson disease initiative at UF.
In response to the growing need for specialized care and research, our team came together in 2010 to consolidate resources and establish a Center of Excellence for Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP) and Atypical Parkinsonian Disorders. These disorders include not only PSP, but also Corticobasal Syndrome (CBS), Multiple System Atrophy (MSA), and Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), which share features with Parkinson’s disease but often progress more quickly and respond less effectively to standard treatments. The Center is now recognized nationally as a CurePSP Center of Care.
Key needs in this area include:
- Raising awareness and improving understanding of PSP and Atypical Parkinsonian disorders to promote early diagnosis, care, support, and access to research and the latest treatments.
- Establishing centers that offer comprehensive, interdisciplinary care, support, education, and research opportunities for patients and families affected by these disorders.
- Building collaborations between clinical teams, basic scientists, and pharmaceutical companies to develop new treatments and find cures.
- Attracting top scientists and clinicians from other fields to address the critical mass challenge in PSP and Atypical Parkinson disorder research and care.
- Creating a support and information network for patients, families, caregivers, and healthcare providers.
To further this mission, UF has hosted the PSP/Atypical Parkinsonism Think Tank symposium for several years. This event brings together leading researchers, clinicians, and students to tackle the challenges in PSP and Atypical Parkinsonian disorders.
In 2018 we also held the first of hopefully more patient/caregiver symposium here at UF for PSP and Lewy body disorders.
Our Interdisciplinary Approach to PSP and Atypical Parkinsonism
We have developed a model of excellence in care, research, and education for PSP and atypical parkinsonism. To achieve our goals, we’ve established a world-class, interdisciplinary “concierge service” for every new and returning patient at our Center with PSP or an atypical Parkinsonian disorder. Patients undergo evaluation using a digital gait and balance mat, which helps clinicians track disease progression and aids researchers in studying gait-related issues that often lead to falls in these conditions.
Patients and their families have access to a full range of interdisciplinary services in one location, including:
- Physical therapy
- Occupational therapy
- Speech and swallowing evaluations
- Neuropsychology
- Psychiatry
- Social work/case management
- Palliative care services
Our goal is to offer these services during the clinic visit, ensuring comprehensive and integrated care.
The UF CurePSP Center of Care (PSP/Atypical Parkinson clinic) is fully integrated with the Fixel Institute for Neurological Diseases and collaborates with the UF Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases and the Clinical Trials Research Center. This partnership plays a crucial role in providing the research infrastructure necessary for breakthroughs, taking research from “the bench to the bedside” and working toward new treatments and cures for PSP and atypical Parkinsonian disorders. We aim to offer patients opportunities to participate in clinical trials that may lead to advancements in diagnosis and treatment for these challenging conditions, ensuring the best possible care and research experience.
Additionally, the PSP and Atypical Parkinsonism program is focused on developing a training initiative to prepare the next generation of scientists in this field.
*This program is supported by the Wright/Falls/Simmons Professorship.
Make an appointment
Request an Appointment Online or call 352-294-5400 for more information.