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For Immediate Release Contact: Ken Bernstein Announcing the Opening of The Parkinson's Web on the Internet BOSTON, MA - Dr. Anne Young, M. D., Ph.D., Chief of the Department of Neurology at the Massachusetts General Hospital, announced the opening of a Parkinson's Disease information resource directory on the World Wide Web. Individuals with a computer, Internet access and web browser software will now be able to learn about new developments in Parkinson's research, look up medical terms in a glossary, get a listing of Parkinson's organizations and resources in the United States and countries around the world. These are but a few of the categories of information available on The Parkinson's Web. The Universal Resource Locator is: http://dem0nmac.mgh.harvard.edu/parkinsonsweb/Main/PDmain.html. Ken Bernstein, President of the Young Parkinson's Support Network - Massachusetts is The Parkinson's Web Project Coordinator. Bernstein said the creation of the Parkinson's information resource was a collaborative effort involving neurologists, researchers and Parkinson's patients and activists in the United States, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, the United Kingdom and The Netherlands. The goal, according to Bernstein, is to "use the Internet's capability to link people around the world, use the Internet's power to share information and create a worldwide Parkinson's community." Beyond sharing information on the Internet, project contributors hope that this web site can help speed the search for the cause of Parkinson's and the development of ever more effective treatment strategies. The web site is in its infancy and over time more information will become available. Volunteers are still needed for this work. They should contact Ken Bernstein via e-mail: [log in to unmask] Parkinson's disease is a baffling and complex of the neurological disorders. Its cause remains a mystery but research in this area is active, with new and intriguing findings constantly being reported. The disease is both chronic and progressive. It is not contagious nor is it usually inherited. Parkinson's belongs to a group of conditions called Motor System Disorders. The four primary symptoms are tremor or trembling in hands, arms, legs, jaw, and face; rigidity or stiffness of the limbs and trunk; bradykinesia or slowness of movement; and postural instability or impaired balance and coordination. As these symptoms become more pronounced, patients may have difficulty walking, talking, or completing other simple tasks. # # # March 24, 1995