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I saw the Reuter Information Service piece in the P.D. Digest a couple of days ago, detailing the general excitement everyone is feeling regarding the potential of using Glial Cell Derived Neurotrophic factor (GDNF) for ALS ... and it IS exciting! HOWEVER...the piece concluded with, "He said that, if successful, the trial could lead to treatment for diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's...." All of us who care about Parkinson's - and more to the point, people who have Parkinson's - should know that it IS being tested for Parkinson disease. Amgen had significant success with Parkinsonian primates given GDNF and, in fact, has begun a nationwide if limited testing of GDNF for Parkinson's patients. About 20 Parkinson's patients, to date, have received very low "doses" of GDNF, to increase as FDA protocol allows. We're watching results very carefully! Keep the faith. There ARE good things coming! Kim Seidman, NPF West Coast Director