Genetic Counseling and Testing for Neurological Disorders

Genetic testing involves examining your DNA and can reveal changes (variants, previously called mutations) in your genes that may cause illness or disease. Although genetic testing can provide important information, the decision to have genetic testing can be difficult. A genetic counselor can help you decide if testing would be helpful and can then interpret and help you understand your results. Meeting with a genetic counselor is an important step in the process of genetic testing.

The Northwestern Medicine Neurogenetics Program at Northwestern Memorial Hospital offers comprehensive genetic counseling and testing services for patients with neurological conditions including:

• Alzheimer’s disease and dementia
• Movement disorders (early onset Parkinson’s disease, Wilson disease, Huntington’s disease, etc.)
• Epilepsy
• Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease)
• Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA)

Our dedicated team includes highly experienced professionals in the fields of neurology and genetics, including specially trained neurologists, geneticists, genetic counselors and nurses.

Services We Offer

• Expert clinical evaluations and diagnoses
• Genetic counseling
• Genetic testing
• Diagnostic and pre-symptomatic testing
• Family planning and prenatal testing
• Comprehensive treatment planning for movement disorders

Appointments

Your care team will provide you with the education and support you need to make an informed decision about genetic testing. If you choose to undergo genetic testing, our team will help you understand the implications of the results and determine next steps. To schedule an appointment with a genetic counselor, please call 312.695.7950.