The Parkinson's Foundation makes life better for people with Parkinson's disease by improving care and advancing research toward a cure. Founded in 1957, the organization serves millions of people living with Parkinson's and their families through programs in the United States and abroad. The Foundation's mission encompasses patient education, healthcare professional training, clinical care improvement, and funding innovative research to develop new treatments and ultimately find a cure for Parkinson's disease.
A network of 42 medical centers worldwide providing expert, multidisciplinary Parkinson's care and participating in cutting-edge research. These centers offer comprehensive services including movement disorder neurology, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, and neuropsychology.
A landmark initiative offering free genetic testing and genetic counseling to people with Parkinson's disease to advance precision medicine in PD. The study aims to enroll 15,000 participants and has already identified over 25% of participants with clinically significant genetic variants.
The largest clinical study of Parkinson's disease, tracking over 10,000 patients to identify best practices in care. This ongoing study has produced numerous publications on motor and non-motor symptoms, medication management, and quality of life outcomes.
The Foundation has funded numerous breakthrough research projects in recent years:
| Disease | Research Priority |
|---|---|
| Parkinson's Disease | Primary focus |
| Parkinsonism | Atypical parkinsonism |
| Dementia with Lewy Bodies | Care and research |
| Progressive Supranuclear Palsy | Research collaboration |
The Parkinson's Foundation invests heavily in training the next generation of movement disorder specialists:
The study of Parkinson'S Foundation has evolved significantly over the past decades. Research in this area has revealed important insights into the underlying mechanisms of neurodegeneration and continues to drive therapeutic development.
Historical context and key discoveries in this field have shaped our current understanding and will continue to guide future research directions.