Krembil Neuroscience Centre (KNC)

Dr. Anthony Lang

The Krembil Neuroscience Centre at Toronto Western Hospital is home to the Morton and Gloria Shulman Movement Disorders Centre, which specializes in leading edge treatment and research for movement disorders. The Director of the centre is Dr. Anthony Lang, is recognized as one of Canada’s leading experts in Parkinson’s disease and is equally renowned on the international stage for his research into the condition. A graduate of the University of Toronto, he first became interested in Parkinson’s disease during his training.

Dr. Lang oversees a staff of specialists, including doctors, nurses, researchers and technicians. Together, they handle over 7,000 patient visits each year.

The centre is dedicated to improving the quality of life of patients affected by these diseases and has an experienced staff of neurologists, fellows, nurses who have been trained specifically to diagnose and treat these disorders.

We integrate training, research, and technology with clinical care, using the most advanced technology available to help us identify causes of your movement disorder problem. We seek out and provide the treatment that is best suited to your diagnosis and individual situation. We are also committed to developing and evaluating innovative treatments. Whenever appropriate, you will be offered the opportunity to participate in various types of research studies and clinical trials of promising new therapies.

Movement disorders are neurological conditions that affect the speed and quality of the body’s physical movement. Movement disorders are defined as either excessive (hyperkinetic) or reduced (bradykinetic) activity.

The following are common movement disorders:

	Dystonia (A syndrome characterized by sustained muscle contractions, usually producing twisting and repetitive movements or abnormal postures or positions.)
	Huntington's disease (A rare abnormal hereditary condition characterized by chronic progressive chorea and mental deterioration that results in dementia. An individual afflicted with the condition usually shows the first signs in the fourth decade of life.)
	Myoclonus (rapid, brief, irregular movement)
	Parkinson's disease (A movement disorder with four typical symptoms: tremor, rigidity, bradykinesia and problems with balance or coordination.)
	Tics (involuntary muscle contractions)
	Tourette's syndrome
	Essential Tremor (The most common movement disorder in its group characterized by tremor, which may occur in the hands, head, legs, trunk, or voice.)
	Wilson disease (inherited disorder that causes neurological and psychiatric symptoms and liver disease)