October 14, 2008
Foundation Awards $2 Million for Research on Cognitive and Mood Symptoms of Parkinson's Disease
The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research awarded a total of $2 million to five research teams to speed development of effective therapies for the under-addressed cognitive and mood-related symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. Patients often report these symptoms, which range from problems with executive function (the ability to formulate, sequence, and execute plans) to dementia; depression, apathy and anxiety; and behavioral issues including problems with impulse control, to be among the most difficult aspects of living with PD.

The funding will support pre-clinical and clinical research projects under the Foundation’s Cognitive Deficits and Mood Disorders in Parkinson’s Disease initiative, made possible by generous leadership funding from Merck Serono, a division of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany.

“Clinicians and patients alike report how disabling the cognitive and mood effects of PD can be, yet these symptoms are systematically under-researched and are poorly understood,” said Katie Hood, CEO of The Michael J. Fox Foundation. “We are thrilled to have found a like-minded partner in Merck Serono so that we can push this work forward.”

Article: http://michaeljfox.org/newsEvents_mj...cle.cfm?ID=272