Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders

A female doctor sitting in front of a patient and holding a strip of cloth with a pattern of alternating red and white rectangles.
Dr. Delaram Safarpour, a neurologist and specialist in movement disorders, is part of our nationally recognized Parkinson’s disease program. Our program offers a large team of providers who work together.

The OHSU Brain Institute is a world leader in care for Parkinson’s disease and other movement disorders. All the providers in our Parkinson Center & Movement Disorders Program have exceptional expertise. We offer you:

  • Specialists who care for patients and lead research to improve treatments and outcomes.
  • International experts in Parkinson’s disease and other movement disorders.
  • National recognition for excellence in Parkinson’s, neurological and neurosurgical care.
  • One of the world’s most experienced teams in deep brain stimulation, and one of the few centers to offer “asleep” DBS for your comfort.
  • State-of-the-art rehabilitation care.
Learn about OHSU’s treatment options for Parkinson’s disease and about our team of expert providers, including neurologist Matthew Brodsky, M.D.

Outstanding care for nerve conditions: U.S. News & World Report ranks the OHSU Brain Institute among the nation’s top programs for neurology and neurosurgery.

Expert providers: Our neurologists and neurosurgeons are recognized leaders in movement disorders. They:

  • Speak around the world
  • Train peers
  • Lead research
  • Publish extensively

Our excellence

National recognition for care and research:

Team-based care

All our providers have expertise in movement disorders. We’ll match you with the specialists best suited to your needs.

Care team: Your team of specialists will work together to recommend the best treatment. A neurology social worker can address concerns about finances, transportation and other issues.

Rehabilitation experts: Our neurologic rehabilitation team offers expert physical, speech and occupational therapy in our state-of-the-art rehab facility.

Help preparing: Our Next Step Clinic brings together specialists to help you and your family when your needs increase. This team can ease symptoms and provide emotional support.

A male doctor sitting in front of a female patient providing her with an explanation.
Dr. Joseph Quinn is the director of the OHSU Parkinson Center. He is a neurologist and an expert in movement disorders and geriatrics.

Leading-edge treatment

Expert injections: We offer specialists with the advanced technique needed for precise injections of therapeutic neurotoxin, such as Botox. This treatment can calm overactive muscles in patients with Parkinson’s and movement disorders such as dystonia.

Duopa medication: We offer Duopa, an innovative therapy that can give Parkinson’s patients longer-lasting and more effective relief. Two medications, levodopa and carbidopa, are combined in a gel and delivered into the small intestine through a small tube.

Deep brain stimulation: Dr. Kim Burchiel, an internationally known neurosurgeon, and his team have done more than 1,000 deep brain stimulation surgeries. DBS can treat Parkinson’s disease, essential tremor and dystonia. Dr. Burchiel also pioneered “asleep DBS.” OHSU is among the few medical centers where patients do not have to be awake during DBS surgery.

Research and clinical trials

OHSU scientists have long been at the forefront of research into Parkinson’s disease. Over the years, we have played a role in every major development in Parkinson’s care. Our work includes:

Clinical trials: The OHSU Brain Institute offers clinical trials for patients with varying stages of Parkinson’s disease. We have research happening across many sites, so if you qualify, you may not need to travel to Portland to take part.

Parkinson’s disease: We are conducting research on psychological and physical aspects of Parkinson’s, including:

  • How stress affects the progression of the disease.
  • Ways to slow the breakdown of dopamine, a brain chemical that plays a central role in Parkinson’s.
  • The role of protein buildup, with the goal of developing and testing a new medication.

Balance Disorders Laboratory: Researchers in our Balance Disorders Laboratory are exploring the connection between motor signals and balance to develop rehabilitation approaches.

Improving deep brain stimulation devices: DBS uses open-loop devices, which deliver constant stimulation even if symptoms are absent. We’re exploring a closed-loop device to provide stimulation only as needed.

Learn more about OHSU Parkinson’s disease research

For patients

  • Referral: To become a patient, please ask your doctor for a referral.
  • Questions: For questions or follow-up appointments, call 503-494-7772 .
  • Find forms for new and returning patients.

Location

Parking is free for patients and their visitors.

OHSU Parkinson Center
Center for Health & Healing Building 1, eighth floor
3303 S. Bond Ave.
Portland, OR 97239

Map and directions

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'They support scientists'

Vivek Unni, M.D., Ph.D.

Meet Vivek Unni, M.D., Ph.D., and learn about his commitment to Parkinson’s research and why he chose OHSU.

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