Parkinson's Disease Health Center

What research initiatives are being conducted for Parkinson's? 

• At the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke is the primary institute supporting Parkinson's disease research. In 2011 alone, they funded $96 million out of $151 million in NIH-supported Parkinson's research. Scientists and researchers are not only looking for effective treatments, but also for environmental factors that may act as triggers of the condition. 

Are there any possible treatments on the horizon for those with Parkinson's?

• There are potential treatments for Parkinson's currently in the testing process. Coenzyme Q10, a compound used in a placebo-controlled multicenter clinical trial in 2002, has been shown to slow disease progression in patients with early-stage Parkinson's. In 2004, researchers using an experimental vaccine on mice showed that it is possible to reduce the amount of neurodegeneration in Parkinson's and provided hope that medication to slow the condition will one day be available for humans.

What is GWAS and how can it aid in Parkinson's research and diagnosis? 

• Genome-wide association study (GWAS) is a particular approach that involves rapidly scanning markers across completed sets of DNA from many people in order to find genetic variations associated with a specific disease or condition. So far, GWAS has been able to identify genetic variations that contribute to diseases such as Parkinson's. Locating and studying these specific genes may help doctors understand how the disease is inherited and why.