There are a lot of research programs happening around Parkinson’s Disease thanks to organizations like the Michael J Fox Foundation and the Parkinson’s Foundation. My husband has been enrolled in numerous studies over the years, we’re making a trip to a local university tomorrow for his annual check in with the Udall study. He’s been working with that research team for over a decade now. He may never see any advantages from the research currently happening, but at least he can know that he is sharing in finding new solutions and his contribution may be the one that leads eventually to a cure.

He has been in exercise and educational studies, gait and balance studies, had brain scans and spinal taps. He always comes away from these studies with a renewed perspective and desire to keep on fighting. In the case of the Udall study, that he will be seen for tomorrow, the lead researcher called him after he had been participating for 10 years to thank him and give him an update on what they were seeing from his particular results. He didn’t share results from the study, which is still on-going, but was able to say that they were seeing limited progression of symptoms in my husband’s data and that he was doing really well. It was so encouraging.

We are both enrolled in a study through Michael J Fox called Insight. It involves answering a questionnaire every 3 months regarding health issues. I respond as someone without PD and my husband updates them on his condition. This is a long term study and the results are available for researchers to use in different ways, it’s exciting to be supporting many different projects.

If you, or your loved one, would like to learn more about current research studies looking for participants, you can visit the “Michael J Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research” to learn about projects they are funding. You can find even more information on the Parkinson’s Foundation website at “Join a Study.” Don’t be afraid to step up and join the fight, we weren’t and we have never regretted it!