Years of watching people suffer, not just from PD but all the other "incurables", has also made me a skeptic. I see how little profit there is to be gained from actually curing anything; and indeed, for the most part, all I see big pharma doing is more "treatments". Who would give up the mutli-billion dollar annuity that is the PD Rx gravytrain? It is maddening.

I don't think this problem is limited to big pharma, either. Think of all the neuros-what would they do without PD patients to treat? For some, it makes up more than 50-75% of their practice. And what about all those researchers? What will they do once PD, or some other well-funded disease, is cured? Breast cancer alone has had billions of dollars poured into it-yet still no cure. Same for AIDS (makes me crazy, as this one can largely be prevented).

Watching my own mother go through some routine age-related medical issues (gastro, hip replacement, she doesn't have PD) has made me pretty paranoid about the personnel side of our healthcare system as well. From her experience, it seems doctors are LOOKING for things to treat her for, including "diagnostic surgery", and prescribing loads of prescriptions, but never any mention of good nutrition, exercise, or getting out in the sun. Why would they want her healthy? She has Medicare, and payment is certain. The more tests, visits, screens, scans, prescriptions, follow-ups and consultations, the more they make. They have no clue, and I have no faith in the bulk of them. As someone once told me, stay away from doctors and hospitals, you'll get sick!

I am so thankful for this forum, where common sense prevails, and alternative solutions discussed openly. I know there are many dedicated researchers out there, perhaps even some lurking in the halls of big pharma. I just see the great wave of profit-seeking as a rather enourmous barrier to overcome. I'm not against profit, just wish that the powers that be were satisfied with a couple million for a cure, instead of the GDP of a large developed country. Sigh.