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I received the following response to my recent request about PD patients with a family history of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (abbreviated ADHD or ADD). The symptoms of ADHD are very well described. If the author of the letter is correct in his hypothesis that ADHD may be a precursor to PD, then it is probably important that ADHD children have the opportunity to be tested with the neuroprotective medications that are currently under development. Of course, neurodegeneration has never been established in ADHD (a fertile area for neuroimaging research). In order for such research to be initiated it would be helpful to know if other PD patients have experienced some of the concentration problems described in this letter. I would appreciate your responses, either through this forum, or directly to my EMAIL address: [log in to unmask] Thanks. Fiona Geiser, Ph.D. Hello, I was diagnosed with PD 8 years ago today. I am now age 53. My wife has an MS in school psychology and says much of what I describe re: concentration problems fits her understanding of ADD. I was basically a bright student, but I always had a major problem with reading--especially fiction. I couldn't, and never could, stay focused. I have always had a hard time following and remembering movie plots and characters. and listening carefully to directions. My mind always wanted to move on. When listening to a speech I have throughout my life found it hard not to have my mind wander. I have always had a hard time remembering and juggling details for multiple projects in a work environment--more than most. I have been in therapy for depression/ codependency since my diagnosis. I have learned that I have always stuffed my feelings, am passive-aggressive, and can't remember my early childhood nearly as well as healthy adults. I suffer what feels like panic disorder; and my therapists verify a strong link between raising strong emotional issues and triggering anxiety or what my neurologist and PD literature would call "off" periods. I believe Sinemet for PD and Ritalin do essentially the same thing for brain chemistry. I hypothesize that ADD may be an early indicator of PD. My son has suggested he may have ADD --without any prior suggestion or discussion with him about ADD at all. Please tell me how I can connect with this issue on the internet. I hope this has been helpful. Richard Morelli [log in to unmask]