...over the last year, and being a cynic besides, I find myself considerably more optimistic than I would have thought a year ago. t isn't anything specific, but it is like a giant coming out from his slumber or something. Stirrings in multiple directions as different researchers realize that ldopa's success has been bad for science and that there are many stones needing turned.

A wide range of possibilities including exercise, nicotine, stem cells, gene therapy, stress management, control of inflammation, recognition of the fact that there are dozens of neurotransmitters, light therapy, electromagnetics, and half-a-dozen more that I forget right now. All have moved from fringe to center stage and are showing signs of working.

So, instead of trying to push the truck down a narrow country lane, the road has suddenly taken on the nature of a multi-lane highway. It kind of feels like it must in the Yukon as the first sound of the spring ice breakup was heard - almost disbelief but not quite.

I don't mean to be a prima dona but hope is essential.