Hi Everyone: I am the national study coordinator for a Parkinson's Disease Genetic Study. I would like make persons aware of this study so that we may recruit as many persons as possible. Therefore, I would like to post the following information about the study: GenePD Genetic Linkage Study in Parkinson's Disease A Study of Siblings with PARKINSON'S DISEASE Over the past several years there has been renewed interest in a familial (genetic) basis for Parkinson's Disease. Although the disease does not appear to run in families in the traditional manner, some people may be born with a genetic predisposition toward developing the disease later in life. We would like to learn more about how and why people develop Parkinson's Disease so that we can hopefully find a means of prevention by identifying persons at risk and introducing new approaches to alter their future development. This is a multi-site project including institutions throughout the United States, Canada and Germany, which has been funded by the National Institute of Health. Boston University School of Medicine is the coordinating center for the project. The study group is interested in Parkinson's patients who have either a living brother or sister also with Parkinson's Disease. These sibling pairs would undergo a free neurological examination, a blood sample would be taken for the genetic research and a questionnaire would be administered. If you have PD and have a living brother or sister also with PD, please contact Nancy Maher, MPH, National Study Coordinator, Boston University School of Medicine, Neurogenetics 1-617-638-5179, toll free 1-888-533-9113 or e-mail [log in to unmask] Visit our web page www.bu.edu/genepd.