You should be aware that there are registries for many diseases and
illnesses such as all STDs (sexually transmitted diseases) and many
cancers. These registries are usefull and important public health
resources for tracking disease prevalence in the population and making
associations which can lead researchers to the cause(s) of disease. I
think your state is to be commended for caring enough about PDers to want
to help. There are many therories as to why any of us has PD. Some
think that genetics is the major culprit, others believe that pesticides
"did it." With a registry, questions such as these can finally be
addressed in a scientific manner. Another area in which a registry will
be usefull is in finding out exactly how many of "us" there are (at least
in Nebraska). I wish my state, Maryland, would start one.
Respectfully,
Terry Brennan, MPH
