Neurology

People with serious signs and symptoms that affect their daily lives might be evaluated and treated by the doctors of the specialty group for autonomic neurology. The autonomic nervous system is important for controlling automatic functions of the body, such as sweating, blood pressure, heart rate, digestion and sexual response. People with autonomic problems may have many disabling symptoms, such as lightheadedness or fainting, constipation, bladder control problems, and sexual problems.

Your care team

Your neurologist works with experts in other specialties, including gastroenterology, aerospace medicine, rheumatology, allergy and immunology, neuroradiology, sleep medicine, speech pathology, and physical medicine and rehabilitation. Your care team listens to you, conducts advanced diagnostic testing and then develops a personalized treatment plan so that you get the care you need.

Conditions and symptoms

• Adie syndrome
• Autonomic failure
• Autonomic neuropathy
• Diabetic neuropathy
• Dysautonomia or dysautonomic neuropathy
• Hyperhidrosis
• Intestinal pseudo-obstruction
• Multiple system atrophy (MSA)
• Neurocardiogenic syncope
• Orthostatic hypotension (postural hypotension)
• Orthostatic intolerance
• Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS)
• Pure autonomic failure
• Sweating and body odor

Research advances that improve clinical care

Our physician-scientists and other researchers have long been active in clinical and basic science research to understand the cause of autonomic failure and to develop new treatments. This work led to the invention of a new test for postganglionic sudomotor function that has become the standard test nationwide. It's called the quantitative sudomotor axon reflex test, also called QSART.

Other successes and current endeavors include:

• Recognizing new autonomic disorders such as chronic idiopathic anhidrosis.
• Describing POTS.
• Developing novel effective treatments for people with multiple system atrophy.
• Reliably recognizing multiple system atrophy that isn’t causing symptoms yet.

You may have the opportunity to participate in research studies and clinical trials as part of your treatment at Mayo Clinic.

Nationally recognized expertise

Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, Mayo Clinic in Phoenix/Scottsdale, Arizona, and Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida, rank among the Best Hospitals for neurology and neurosurgery in the U.S. News & World Report Best Hospitals rankings. Mayo Clinic Children's Center in Rochester is ranked the No. 1 hospital in Minnesota, and the five-state region of Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin, according to U.S. News & World Report's 2024-2025 "Best Children's Hospitals" rankings.

Mayo Clinic is top-ranked in more specialties than any other hospital and has been recognized as an Honor Roll member according to the U.S. News & World Report's 2024-2025 "Best Hospitals" rankings.