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Forwarded message:
From: [log in to unmask] (John Cottingham)
To: [log in to unmask]
Date: 95-08-23 18:19:43 EDT
I reformatted your post for you to improve readability. You may want to cut
and paste it into another message for repost...it was GOOD!
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MAJOR RETURN ON INVESTMENT IN RESEARCH IN
PARKINSON'S DISEASE AND RELATED NEUROSCIENCE
Parkinson's disease:
A chronic, progressive neurodegenerative disorder killing brain cells that
produce dopamine (a neurochemical controlling motor function). When 80% of
the dopamine-generating cells have died, slowness of movement, stiffness and
tremor appear. The drug L-dopa eliminates some symptoms for a limited period
but does not slow cell degeneration process. Approximately one million
Americans currently afflicted. Average age of symptom onset is 57; 30%
diagnosed under age 50. Approximately three million more have at-risk,
pre-symptomatic dopaminecell loss.
Current cost burden:
According to Dr. Ole Isacson of Harvard, Parkinson's is estimated to
cost America a minimum of $25 billion per year.
The costs are spread among afflicted families, health and disability
benefit providers, SSI, SSDI, Medicare and Medicaid.
L-dopa and related drugs run $1000-$6000/year per patient.
Ongoing care required includes neurologist visits, various physical
therapies and often treatment for depression. Typical early-stage annual
medical cost per patient: $2000-7,000; advanced cases higher.
Treatment and hospitalization for Parkinson's-caused falls can run
$40,000 or more. (According to Dr. William Koller of the University of
Kansas, an estimated 38% fall, 13% more than once a week.)
According to Dr. Roger Kurlan of the University of Rochester, 31% of those
employed will lose employment within a year. Disability income subsidies can
run $30,000 or more.
As the disease progresses, substantial disability (inability to maintain
balance, walk, speak, move) requires assisted living and nursing home care.
That can exceed $100,000 per patient.
Current scientific potential:
Several preventive and restorative strategies such as neural growth
factors, gene therapy techniques and surgical therapies show promise in
animal studies or human clinical trials.
Important links to the cause (including genetic susceptibility and role
of toxic agents) are becoming established.
Leading scientists describe Parkinson's as a major neurological disorder
expected to produce a breakthrough therapy and/or cure within this decade.
Stagnant current NIH investment in Parkinson's research:
$26 million per year; no increase since 1989.
10%-14% of NIH-approved projects are funded at 1995 funding levels.
Return expected from investment in Parkinson's research:
According to Dr. Isacson of Harvard, an additional $20-40 million per year
spent to fund 100 of the most effective preclinical and basic research
programs (@ $200,000-$400,000 each) will produce new treatments within
2-3years, an effective therapy or cure within 5 years.
According to Dr. Kurlan of the University of Rochester, even a 10% slowing
of progression will save $327 million per year.
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Following are individual examples of the million Americans bearing the
financial burden of Parkinson's disease. These examples illustrate that
the current estimates of the cost of Parkinson's -- presently estimated
as approximately $6 billion per year -- is a very conservative figure.
That amount probably only includes basic medical care costs. It does not
include the huge additional costs of related medical costs resulting from
falls and other Parkinson's consequences; non-medical care such as physical
therapy; disability benefits from private insurance and government programs
such as SSDI or SSI; lost tax revenue due to early retirement or reduced
employment; assisted living, respite care and nursing homes; and the lost tax
revenue from lost employment opportunities of care-giving family members.
FEMALE
Years with Parkinson's: 9
Age at onset: 36
Current age: 45
Status: Working full-time but disabled from previous employment as trial
attorney.
Medication costs/year $ 2,788.00
Medical care/year $ 650.00
(plus travel to specialists)
Related care(physical therapy, etc.) $ 2,340.00
Lost taxes on earnings lost per year $20,000.00
TOTAL PER YEAR $25,778.00
* * *
MALE I
Years with Parkinson's: 6
Age at onset: 40
Current age 46
Status: Permanently disabled from full-time employment as CPA.
Medication costs/year: $ 4,697.00
Medical care/year: $ 1,950.00
Private disability insurance paid/year: $72,000.00
TOTAL PER YEAR $78,647.00
* * *
MALE II
Years with Parkinson's: 9
Age at onset: 28
Current age: 37
Status: Permanently disabled from employment as city employee.
Medication costs/year: $ 3,000.00
Medical care above insurance/year: $ 20.00
* Related care (physical therapy, etc.):$ 1,440.00
Disability insurance/SSI payments: $10,536.00
Taxes previously paid on $31,500 salary
less taxes now paid on SSI/disability
benefits: $18,086.00
TOTAL PER YEAR: $33,082.00
* Care covered by Kaiser with $3,600/year premium.
* * *
MALE III
Years with Parkinson's: 18
Age at onset: 37
Current age: 55
Status: Permanently disabled from employment from job earning $83,400/year.
Medication costs: $ 3,924.00
Medical care: $ 200.00
Related Care (physical therapy, etc.) $ 3,200.00
Insurance and SSDI: $51,756.00
TOTAL PER YEAR: $59,080.00
* * *
MALE IV
Years with Parkinson's 18
Age at onset: 53
Current age: 71
Status: Totally disabled; unable to care for self; needing round-the-clock
care.
Medication costs: $ 2,500.00
Medical care: $ 10,200.00
Related care (hospitalization and care
following a fall caused by Parkinson's
symptoms): $ 40,000.00
Assisted living(in-home hired care to
assist family; 50% paid by family, 50%
paid by Medicaid): $104,000.00
TOTAL PER YEAR: $156,700.00
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John Cottingham "KNOWLEDGE is of two kinds: we know
[log in to unmask] a subject, or we know where we can
OR find information upon it."
[log in to unmask] Dr. Samuel Johnson
