To learn more about Parkinson's disease -- disease symptoms, support communities, the search for a cure -- explore these Web sites.

• What is Parkinson's disease?
  These sites provide a wealth of in-depth information on every aspect of this illness, from hypotheses about its causes, to detailed explanations of its effect on the brain, to updates on clinical trials.
  
  
  • The Michael J. Fox Foundation posts links to the latest news stories about Parkinson's disease on their homepage. They offer an extensive guide to living with PD, including tips for both patients and caregivers. You can also read about the research initiatives the foundation supports.
  • The National Institutes of Health provides this page with a scientifically detailed, but concise overview of PD. You'll also find links to more information about ongoing PD research and to more than a dozen papers about the disease published by the National Institute on Neurological Disorders and Stroke.
  • My Parkinson's Info is a blog-style site that provides almost-daily updates about new research and drugs and advice for dealing with the disease. Though it's run by a public relations firm, not a non-profit organization, the site is a useful portal to the latest developments in PD and commentary from PD patients.
• The PD Community
  The following sites connect individuals touched by Parkinson's disease, providing information as well as discussion forums for sharing personal experiences.
  
  
  • In addition to offering information on the basics of PD and ongoing research, the Parkinson's Disease Foundation offers a unique service called "Ask The Expert". This feature allows visitors to submit questions which they can't find answered anywhere else. You can also browse through a searchable "Expert Resource Center," which cataloges by topic hundreds of past questions and answers.
  • The Young Onset Parkinson's Association reaches out to individuals who have developed PD at an early age. Their site features multiple forums for sharing stories and questions, including a general message board ("the place to vent, to give advice, to get advice, and … well basically to talk about anything PD") and the "Pharmacist's Forum," plus a state-by-state list of support groups for young people with PD.
  • The Parkinson's Disease Blog Network is a growing site that provides links to blogs by PD patients or about PD. For personal perspectives on what life is like for individuals dealing with PD, explore What's Shakin', Shake, Rattle and Roll: An Insider's View of Parkinson's Disease, or Day by Day with Parkinson's and Peripheral Neuropathy.
• Additional Information
  There's more about Parkinson's Disease and the search for a cure at these sites
  
  
  • The web site of the National Parkinson Foundation -- the largest and oldest PD foundation in the U.S. -- features a guide to PD resources across the country and an interactive "Discussion Corner."
  • The American Parkinson's Disease Foundation is a grass roots organization funding education about PD, patient support and research.
  • The Parkinson's Institute provides patient services and conducts clinical and laboratory research.
  • We Move (Worldwide Education and Awareness for Movement Disorders) provides information and discussion forums for all movement disorders, including PD. Visitors who register can access online classes at We Move's "Virtual University."