List,
Just a reminder on this study and how to contact the VA
about this Parkinsons Disease incidence study.
Bob Martone
[log in to unmask]
http://www.samlink.com/~bmartone
Houston VA Medical Center
2002 Holcomb Blvd
Houston, Texas 77030
News Release
Department of Veteran Affairs
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
Public Affairs Officer
(713) 794-7349
[log in to unmask]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Researchers Seek Answers About Parkinson's Disease
HOUSTON TX, July 11, 2000 - Researchers at the Houston VA
Medical Center and
UT School of Public Health are studying the incidence of
Parkinson's Disease (PD), a common neurologic disorder for
which the cause(s) remain largely unknown. The prevalence of
PD in the genera population is approximately 0.3% (3 cases
per 1000) which increases with age up to 3% (30 cases per
1.000) in the 80-89 year age group At the present time,
crude estimates indicate that over 700,000 individuals in
the US have PD, a number likely to increase to more than
900,000 by 2010. As a consequence the public health impact
of PD on health services continues to expand.
In order to describe the impact of PD in a large,
multi-ethnic community,
neurologist Eugene C. Lal1 MD, PhD: epidemiologist Stephen C
Waring, DVM, PhD,
and their research team are engaged in a four-year
prospective study of newly
diagnosed Parkinson's Disease (PD) among residents of Harris
County from January
1,1998 to December 31, 2001. This study is designed to
determine the overall
incidence of PD and the incidence of PD among the four
predominant ethnic groups in Harris County (Caucasian,
African-American, Hispanic and Asian-American). This
information is vital for assessing the current impact and
the future health care needs associated with this disease in
Harris County.
"This study is quite unique in that Harris County has a
very ethnically diverse population that many experts believe
will reflect the nation's population in the next 25-30
years," said Dr, Lai. "It our research results allow us to
determine how frequently PD occurs as well as identify
individual risk factors, the entire US health care system
can be better prepared to manage PD in the future,"
The researchers need the assistance of PD patients and
their physicians in
Harris County in order to identity all newly diagnosed cases
of Parkinsonism and
Parkinson's disease from 1998 to present. The research team
can obtain the
information needed from the patient's medical record by
chart review. All abstracted information will remain
confidential without personal identification
The researchers hope that this effort will provide
important information regarding how frequently PD occurs in
such a diverse population as well as a valuable resource for
pursuing studies to determine the underlying cause(s) of PC
with Ire ultimate goal of reducing individual risk for
development of PD.
For additional information about this study or to report a
newly diagnosed PD case please call 713-791-1414, ext. 4003.
