CentraState is pleased to introduce a new Movement Disorder Program led by Jia Zhen Cheng, MD, who brings focused expertise in movement disorders to our patients and community. Designed to facilitate early diagnosis and intervention for neurodegenerative conditions, the program is offered in collaboration with OceanFirst Rehabilitation Center with multidisciplinary insight from psychiatry, neuroradiology, neurosurgery, and other specialties.

“We’ve seen an increased need for specialized services in neurodegenerative conditions in recent years, particularly as people are living longer,” says Dr. Cheng. “With early intervention and a collaborative approach, we can fine tune the plan of care for each patient to help decrease symptoms and improve quality of life.”

Dr. Cheng completed her neurology residency at Cooper University Medical Center in Camden, followed by a fellowship in movement disorders at the University of Maryland Medical System. She is certified by the American Board of Neurology and Psychiatry.

“Mobility and function are among the key indicators of health,” adds Brian Mason, PT, DPT, clinical director of rehabilitation services at CentraState. “Like with most disease processes, medicine is more effective when a neurodegenerative issue is diagnosed in the early stages. This type of clinician expertise – paired with therapists who specialize in neurological syndromes and our targeted physical, occupational, and speech therapy programs – can help people with these conditions live longer and better.”

The program treats patients with conditions and symptoms such as Parkinsonism/Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s disease, functional movement disorders, ataxia, dystonia, dyskinesia, choreiform movement, freezing of gait, and tremors. Patients who experience difficulty moving, balance issues, frequent falls, stiffness or rigidity, new onset of small handwriting and low voice, tremors of any kind, facial spasms, and memory issues are candidates for evaluation. In addition, other non-motor symptoms that can have a neurodegenerative link include depression, anxiety, hallucination, delusion, impulsive behaviors, sleep disturbances, loss of smell, difficulty in swallowing, urinary incontinence, constipation, and orthostatic dizziness.

For more information or to refer a patient, please call 732.637.6316.