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Good to hear from you Charlie. I understand your point about the purpose being an improvement in quality of life. I didn't mean that the purpose was just to grow new cells. I read in the NIH news release on this study that PET scans recorded increases of 20% in dopamine activity for the real implants if recipients were under age 60. See http://www.ninds.nih.gov/whatsnew/presswhn/1999.freed.html. It doesn't say that was accompanied by a 20% reduction of symptoms, though I'd be surprised if there weren't some difference attributable to it, and if such improvements didn't outlast and significantly bypass the placebo effects. I'd be interested in your further thoughts, when you get time. And best of luck on your forthcoming surgery! Phil T.