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Research to Address Symptoms of Early Parkinson's Disease ANNAPOLIS, Md., Jan. 28 /PRNewswire/ -- There is no cure for Parkinson's disease ... If you or a loved one has had Parkinson's disease for less than seven years, are 30 years of age or older, and not using Levodopa, Requip(R), Mirapex(R), or Permax(R) therapy, you may be interested in finding out more about a research study for the symptoms of Parkinson's disease. In the United States, approximately 1.5 million people are believed to suffer from Parkinson's disease and about 50,000 new cases are reported every year. Because symptoms usually appear later in life, these figures are expected to grow as the average age of the population increases over the next several decades. Fifteen percent of patients are diagnosed before age 50, and some physicians have reported more cases of "early-onset" Parkinson's disease (under the age of 40) in the past several years. The cause of Parkinson's disease is unknown but research in this area is active with new findings being reported. Parkinson's disease is a progressive neurological disorder, evidenced by symptoms growing worse over time, that is a result of loss or degeneration of nerve cells in a region of the brain that controls movement. This gradual degeneration of nerve cells causes a reduction in a naturally occurring chemical known as dopamine. Dopamine, a neurotransmitter, is crucial to human movement. It is the messenger between the nerve cells that initiates and controls movement and balance. Symptoms of Parkinson's disease can include tremors, rigidity or stiffness of the limbs and trunk, slowness of movement, and impaired balance and coordination. When symptoms grow severe, the drug Levodopa, which helps to replace the brain's dopamine, is often prescribed to treat symptoms of the disease. Pharmacia is currently seeking males and females for a research study to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of an investigational medication that is a dopamine receptor agonist, for the treatment of early Parkinson's disease. Individuals 30 years of age or older, who have had Parkinson's disease for less than seven years, and do not have a history of taking Levodopa for a year or more, may be eligible to participate in this study. All individuals who qualify for the study will receive study medication and study-related health exams. Patients who complete the study will have the option of continuing in an open label study. During that time, study medication and study-related medical care for Parkinson's disease, will continue to be provided for up to four years or until the study drug is approved. Potential study volunteers should call 1-800-41-STUDY for a preliminary screening. SOURCE Pharmacia Web Site: http://www.EarlyParkinsons.com SOURCE: PR Newswire http://www.prnewswire.com/ * * * ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn