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Finding new more effective treatments for PD is only part of the route to a cure for PD. Delivery of ttreatments necessitates a comprehensive research agenda that includes translation of basic science to treatments Date: Sat, 30 Oct 1999 12:19:23 +0200 From: Chris van der Linden <[log in to unmask]> Subject: Re: cure for PD Hallo everyone out there in cyberspace, While millions of dollars are spend on the search for a cure of PD, those who have PD are left in the dark as far as immediate treatment is concerned. I really don't understand why so many Parkinson patients are shouting for more money on research for a cure and in the meantime have to suffer from the disease. If a cure is found the million Parkinson patients in the world are not helped by that, especially those in a later stage of the disease. I would fight for better care, e.g. facilities for physical therapy, lower costs for medicine and widespread availability of expert neurosurgical centers to perform deep brain stimulation. So far it seems that those participating in cell transplant studies are not as well treated than those who had STN stimulation (although their are no comparative studies). The patients here in Belgium who had STN surgery don't understand why this treatment is not readily available to others. The results so far in my experience is that most patients receiving STN surgery hardly have any Parkinson signs and symptoms and they are back active again (I am not exaggerating, and I wish I could all invite you to meet the many patients who had the surgery done). Many of them are now active in Parkinson support groups. If you really would have something done now and not 10 years from now you really have to fight for more money to have readily available treatment rather than more money for research. Greetings, Chris