My thanks go to Debi Brooks for highlighting the importance of the Parkinson's Progression Markers Initiative (PPMI) database, sponsored by MJFox.

If you are interested in DOING research, I encourage you to apply for data access:
http://www.ppmi-info.org/access-data...download-data/

Once registered you can download the data in comma separated values files. These can, for instance, be imported to Excel. From there it's down to your
creativity in asking the right questions.

Happy data mining.

John

PPMI is the most important study being conducted for Parkinson's disease right now - the data collected is being shared by the world; it will inform all other research being conducted.

They are actively recruiting newly diagnosed patients at centers around the world, also looking for "healthy" (non-PD) controls.

This study is fully funded and sponsored by the Michael J Fox Foundation. They have actively sought patient input in all aspects of this research in the form of focus groups, their Patient Advisory Council, and a patient committee newly designated to advise on recruitment and retention of PPMI study participants. Jean Burns, Sheryl Jadlinsky, and I, all active members of this NeuroTalk Forum, are on that committee.

for more information, check out this link to the PPMI info at MJFF
http://www.michaeljfox.org/living_PPMI.cfm