About Parkinson's Disease

• Parkinson's disease is the second most common neurodegenerative disease in the US.
  
• Nationwide, as many as 1.5 million people suffer from Parkinson's and about 50,000 Americans are diagnosed with the disease yearly.
  
• While the average age at onset is 60, disease onset starts by age 40 in an estimated five to 10 percent of patients, and people as young as 30 can also be affected.
  
• Parkinson's strikes slightly more men than women and more whites than blacks in the U.S.
  
• If we combine the price tags for treatment, Social Security payments and lost income from premature disability, Parkinson's disease already costs our nation in excess of $6 billion annually.
  
• Every person living with Parkinson's disease experiences a different range of symptoms.
  
• At present, there is no cure for Parkinson's disease.  Both medical and surgical interventions offer only symptom relief and do not affect the underlying pathology of the disease.

About Clinical Trials

• A clinical trial is a research study in which a treatment or therapy is tested in people to see whether it is safe and effective.
  
• There are clinical trials for healthy people (for example, to prevent disease) and trials for many different types and stages of diseases and conditions.
  
• All clinical trials have guidelines about who can participate. Before joining a clinical trial, a participant must qualify for the study.
  
• Informed consent is the process of learning the key facts about a clinical trial before deciding whether or not to participate.  It is also a continuing process throughout the study to provide information for participants.
  
• Clinical trials are sponsored or funded by a variety of organizations or individuals such as the federal government, pharmaceutical companies, biotechnology companies, device manufacturers, diagnostic manufacturers, medical institutions, physicians, foundations and voluntary groups.
  
• Clinical trials can take place in a variety of locations, such as hospitals, universities, doctors' offices, or community clinics.
  
• While there are many benefits to being involved in a clinical trial, there are also risks.  Not all new treatments being studied will turn out to be better or even as good as the standard available care, and there may also be unknown side effects with the new treatment.