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Friends, It's time to introduce myself. I am Alvis Clegg, aged 63, a retired communications engineer from CIA (20 yrs.) and NC State Univ. (9 yrs.). I have been totally retired for three years, during which time my wife and I have been engaged in genealogical research on her family. I have been reading from the PARKINSN database for about two weeks and am impressed by the information exchanged and the openness with which it is communicated. I have a half-brother, aged 74, who was diagnosed with PD about 12 years ago. Shortly after his diagnosis, he told me that there were many cases of PD in the rural area where we attended public school. Initially, I attributed this to increased awareness; but in recent years, reading obituaries, and talking with old schoolmates, I too believe the PD incidence around our old school far exceeds the national norm. I have copied the entire PARKINSN database and passed it along to my half-brother. I wonder if PD is more prevalent in rural than urban areas? Country-folk know their neighborhoods better, are more concerned about their neighbors, and communicate with one another more and better than city-folk. This I know: I've experienced both. If, as many postings imply, Parkinson's is the result of an environmental condition/s, has any national Parkinson's organization prepared a questionnaire which seeks to determine what these conditions might be, especially where there seems to be a cluster of PD? If so, wouldn't this be a good forum in which to work on it? I would like to hear your views. Thanks. Alvis Clegg Internet address: [log in to unmask]