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CAUTION -- ADVANCE FOR 4:00 P.M. (EST), THURSDAY, JUNE 26/ ADVANCE/ MIAMI, June 26 /PRNewswire/ -- The following was released today by the National Parkinson Foundation: Six months after scientists at the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) announced the discovery of the location of a gene that could be responsible for Parkinson's disease, the actual gene has been precisely identified. This is exciting news as it was originally estimated that due to a lack of NIH funds available for Parkinson's disease research, locating the actual gene could take up to eight (8) years. This was much longer than the National Parkinson Foundation (NPF) and the Parkinson Community wanted to wait; therefore NPF decided to help NIH fund genetic research. NPF committed five million dollars to the genetic research of Parkinson's disease which included an unprecedented grant of $505,000.00 to the NIH. "The commitment by the National Parkinson Foundation of a grant of over one-half million dollars to support genetic research demonstrates the vision of the organization (NPF) and the necessary support of families with Parkinson's disease in this type of studies," stated Mihael Polymeropoulos, M.D., Principal Investigator, NHGRI. Discovering there is a genetic link to Parkinson's disease and locating the actual gene is a monumental step in understanding the cause of Parkinson's disease. NHGRI researchers suspect that the abnormal gene is responsible for a significant portion of familiar Parkinson's disease with onset generally before the age of 60. This finding will be a key clinical research tool within families predisposed to Parkinson's disease and may permit researchers to formulate clinical studies for investigating drugs or other ways of deferring or offering protection from the illness. "We instantly saw the possibilities in the NIH research and knew what needed to be done to expedite the process -- NIH needed more money and we felt responsible to give it to them," said Nathan Slewett, Chairman of the Board, NPF. "Finding a genetic cause for Parkinson's disease opens a new chapter in understanding the biological mechanism(s) leading to the loss of neurons that ultimately results in the symptoms of Parkinson's disease. Only through a fundamental understanding of these mechanisms will a cure for Parkinson's disease be found." In an effort to answer the myriad of questions the Parkinson population is bound to have, NPF has drafted a list of questions the Foundation believes will be most commonly asked regarding this finding. This Q&A document will be available to anyone who calls NPF's international headquarters in Miami, FL at 800-327-4545 or visits the Foundation's world wide website: www.parkinson.org The National Parkinson Foundation is one of the largest research institutes, with 50 research centers around the world. NPF's mission is to: find the cause and cure for Parkinson's disease and allied neurological disorders through research; to educate general medical practitioners to detect the early warning signs of Parkinson's disease; to educate patients, their caregivers and the general public; to provide diagnostic and therapeutic services; and to improve the quality of life for both patients and caregivers. For more information on Parkinson's disease or the services offered by NPF, call 800-327-4545. SOURCE National Parkinson Foundation