Specialized Care for Movement Disorders in Los Angeles

Overview

Support for the Whole Patient and Their Family

At the Pacific Movement Disorders Center, caring for the whole person is an integral part of our mission. We are committed to providing individualized and holistic patient care. Our approach is focused on safety, comfort, and improving the quality of life of our patients.

Our expert team provides highly specialized care to establish an accurate diagnosis, create personalized medical treatment plans, and deliver functional neurosurgical treatment when appropriate.

With conditions such as Parkinson’s disease (PD), essential tremor (ET), dystonia, and tics, collaboration with a movement disorders specialist is essential. Our experts understand your symptoms and provide a comprehensive approach to optimize your daily functioning. We see the bigger picture and emphasize a partnership with you and your family.

Atypical Parkinsonism (Parkinson’s Plus)

Atypical parkinsonism (also called “Parkinsonism-plus” syndromes) describes a group of neurological disorders that look like Parkinson’s disease but have additional symptoms and different progression patterns. These conditions are generally more complex to diagnose and treat than typical Parkinson’s disease.

Atypical parkinsonism can result from several conditions, including:

Multiple System Atrophy (MSA): Parkinsonism with autonomic dysfunction (e.g., blood pressure, bladder issues) and coordination problems.
Dementia with Lewy Bodies (DLB): Parkinsonism plus memory and cognitive changes, hallucinations, and fluctuating alertness.
Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP): Parkinsonism with eye movement problems, frequent falls, and cognitive changes.
Corticobasal Degeneration (CBD): Rare, causing asymmetric parkinsonism, involuntary movements, and apraxia (loss of purposeful movement).

Other forms include:

Vascular Parkinsonism: Gait and balance issues caused by multiple small strokes.
Drug-induced Parkinsonism: Parkinson-like symptoms from certain psychiatric or anti-nausea medications (e.g., haloperidol, aripiprazole, metoclopramide). These often improve when the medication is stopped.

Our movement disorders specialists provide expert diagnosis and individualized treatment for the more complex presentations of disease in atypical parkinsonism, using advanced therapies and a compassionate, multidisciplinary approach to optimize quality of life.

Conditions & Treatments

Movement Disorders Treated by Our Specialists

Our movement disorder specialists diagnose and treat a wide range of movement issues.

Blepharospasm

Cervical Dystonia

Corticobasal Degeneration

Lewy Body Dementia

Dystonia

Gait Disorders and Ataxia

Multiple System Atrophy

Myoclonus

Parkinson’s Disease

Progressive Supranuclear Palsy

Restless Legs Syndrome

Spasticity

Tics and Tourette’s Syndrome

Treatments & Procedures

Our expert team offers personalized treatment plans that focus on safety, comfort and quality for patients with movement disorders.

Medical Management

Individualized treatments reduce the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease, essential tremor, dystonia, and other movement disorders.

Botox Injections

Botox (botulinum toxin) injections are highly effective for the treatment of dystonia.

Duopa

Duopa provides continuous levodopa to improve function in patients with Parkinson’s disease.

Lifestyle Interventions

The best form of treatment for PD is exercise. This may include participation in PD-specific exercise classes, working with a personal trainer, use of fitness videos, or independent exercise. Adjusting nutrition, such as incorporating the MIND diet, may sometimes be recommended.

Speech-Language Therapy

Speech therapy can be helpful for slow, soft, or slurred speech in people with PD.

Physical Therapy

The Performance Therapy Center at our Providence partner hospitals provide a multidisciplinary approach to outpatient rehabilitation.

Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS)

Patients with Parkinson’s disease, essential tremor, or dystonia may be candidates for deep brain stimulation (DBS) or other advanced treatment approaches. For most patients, DBS surgery can be performed using an advanced frameless approach. The system employs a custom-made mini frame that improves patients comfort during surgery, shortens procedure times, and supports faster recovery than other types of surgery. and reduces the time required for the surgery therefore optimizing recovery.

Focused Ultrasound (FUS)

We provide non-invasive focused ultrasound stimulation therapies for essential tremor and tremor-dominant Parkinson’s disease.

Services

State-Of-The-Art Movement Disordersrn Diagnostic Technology

DaTscan

For patients who are facing a possible diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease, we offer advanced tools to support an accurate diagnosis. One of these tools is the DaTscan, a leading-edge technology which measures dopamine transporter levels in the brain.

Syn-One Testing

In addition, we provide Syn-One testing that detects phos-alpha-synuclein in the dermal nerves. This is a minimally invasive way to evaluate for synucleinopathies such as Parkinson’s disease, dementia with Lewy bodies, multiple system atrophy, pure autonomic failure, and REM sleep behavior disorder.

Second Opinion

Many seek a second opinion when considering the treatment option that’s best. Our customized frameless deep brain stimulation (DBS) technique allows for shorter surgery time and greater patient comfort. We also offer novel non-invasive focused ultrasound stimulation for tremor and highly effective Botox injections for dystonia, as well as clinical trial opportunities.

Team

Meet Our Expert Movement Disorders Specialists

With several years of experience in the evaluation and the treatment of patients with movement disorders, our board-certified specialists ensure the highest level of care with a patient-centered approach. They offer a comprehensive, personalized recommendation for each patient, and when indicated, provide deep brain stimulation (DBS) or focused ultrasound (FUS) as the best therapeutic strategy. Our multispecialty approach includes coordination with physical, occupational, and speech therapists, as well as other providers to meet the specific needs of each patient.

Jonathan P. Finley, DNP, FNP-BC

Romina Huerta, MS, CCC-SLP

Speech-Language Pathology

Jean-Philippe Langevin, MD

Neurosurgery

Erika Lozano

Sheila Moore, MSG, LCSW

Movement Disorders

Melita Petrossian, MD

Neurology

Medha Sataluri, MS, CCC-SLP

Speech-Language Pathology

Giselle Therese U. Tamula, MSN, NP-C

Neurology

Katrin Gabriel, MS, CCC-SLP

Speech-Language Pathology

Gina Kim, MOT, OTR/L, CBIS, CSRS

Occupational Therapy

Clinical Trials

Movement Disorders Clinical Trials

Clinical trials are research studies that explore newer treatment strategies for patients who are no longer responding to current treatments or who are eligible for a new therapy approach. Data collected throughout the course of a trial helps develop a deeper understanding of the disease continuum and depending upon your condition, we may recommend participation in a clinical trial.

Clinical trials differ from a doctor’s office visit where the goal is to diagnose and treat the disease with established therapies. Rather clinical trials use new therapies, current treatments used in an innovative way, or new surgical procedures. An Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval is always obtained prior to activating a study weighing the risks and benefits of a study. The IRB ensures that the clinical trial is conducted in accordance with all federal, institutional, and ethical guidelines.

Learn more about clinical trials at PNI

Patient Support

Support That Goes Beyond Your Appointment

Patient Support & Resources

Properly managing movement disorders goes beyond medication and procedures. It must also include education and support. With informational programs, support groups, psychological care, and caregiver guidance, we’re with you at every step. Our partnership with American Parkinson Disease Association (APDA) provides structured support groups for newly diagnosed PD patients and their families.

Movement Disorders Resource Listing

Curated for our patients.

Life In Motion: Parkinson’s Disease Support Meeting:

Ongoing virtual monthly meetings.

Everything Parkinson’s Webinar Series:

In-depth exploration of useful topics.

Brain Wellness & Lifestyle Program at PNI

Learn how to preserve memory and brain function with the Brain Wellness & Lifestyle Program at Pacific Neuroscience Institute. We offer in-person and virtual courses led by brain health experts.