OSF INI Named Huntington’s Disease Center of Excellence

OSF HealthCare Illinois Neurological Institute has been named a Huntington’s Disease Center of Excellence by the Huntington’s Disease Society of America (HSDA). The HSDA Centers of Excellence provide an elite team approach to Huntington’s disease care and research.

OSF Illinois Neurological Institute is one of 47 centers in the United States to earn the HSDA Center of Excellence designation, and is the only Center of Excellence for the disease in downstate Illinois.

Huntington's disease is a fatal genetic disorder that causes the progressive breakdown of nerve cells in the brain. It deteriorates a person's physical and mental abilities usually during their prime working years and has no cure. Every child of a parent with HD has a 50/50 chance of inheriting the faulty gene that causes Huntington's disease. The symptoms of HD are described as having ALS, Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases - simultaneously.

Dr. Dronacharya Lamichhane is a neurologist at OSF HealthCare Illinois Neurological Institute. He says their goal to provide not only support via medication, but through the holistic care of the patient and their family.

“It’s very important. A Huntington’s disease Center of Excellence is a team of multidisciplinary care providers that are experts in taking care of Huntington’s disease patients and their families,” explained Dr. Lamichhane. “It includes neurologists like myself, psychiatrists, social workers, counselors, genetic counselors, therapists. It’s sort of a one stop shop for Huntington’s disease patients and families, and they are provided state-of-the-art evidence-based care.”

Today, there are approximately 30,000 symptomatic Americans and 200,000 at-risk of inheriting the disease. In less than 10% of cases, juvenile Huntington's disease (JHD) affects children & adolescents.

For more information about the OSF HealthCare Illinois Neurological Institute’s Parkinson’s and Movement Disorders Center and its treatment of Huntington’s disease, click here or call (309) 857-7613.