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Listserv Friends, Today I embarked on a study at Johns Hopkins University Hospital in Baltimore dealing with Parkinson's disease, It is a longitudinal study -- a day long visit which will be followed by telephone follow-ups every six months for 18 months and a second visit at the end of 24 months. The study is being handled by the Neuropsychiatry & Memory Group, Parkinson's Disease Research Center. There are some inclusion/exclusion criteria for entry into the program. There must be bradykinesia plus at least one other PD symptom and at least 3 of the following ( unilateral onset, resting tremor, progressive disorder, persistent asymmetry, beneficial response to L-dopa for 5 or more years, L-dopa induced dyskinesia, clinical course > 10 years). There must be no history of repeated strokes, head injury, or encephalitis, more than one affected relative, sustained remission, oculogyric crisis, neuroleptic treatment at onset of the systems, strictly unilateral features after 3 years, cerebellar signs, early & severe dysautonomia, early & severe dementia before PD onset, Babinski sign, hydrocephalus / known structural lesion, limited response to an adequate trial of L-dopa, or exposure to MPTP or other known neurotoxins, previous neurosurgery, severe medical disease, substance abuse or dependence, CNS diseases, significant head injury with loss of consciousness more the 30 minutes. The study makes no promises of being of value to you. You get a free lunch and a ticket for free parking for one day in the hospital parking garage. You won't get financially rich by participating in the program. You gain by being worked on/with some of the top PD people in the country, learning from them, and the hope that what you are doing will help others. Cost: You provide your own transportation. You are expected to let Johns Hopkins have your brain after you are through with it. The brain donation costs are all paid by Hopkins, hopefully not soon. Want to know more? Drop me an e-mail to [log in to unmask] I will put you in touch with the right people.