Parkinson’s Awareness Week: Biggest ever study into Parkinson’s is launched

Three thousand sufferers of Parkinson’s are being searched for to take part in the biggest ever study into the neurological condition. The study is being organised by Dr Donald Grosset, a neurologist at Glasgow University, and it is hoped that the results may lead to better treatment and diagnosis.

Alongside the charity, Parkinson’s UK, Dr Grosset is asking sufferers as well as their siblings, to come forward in order to identify blood markers which could be used for diagnosis. Those people suffering from Parkinson’s, of whom there are almost 130,000 in the UK, will then be given various treatments and monitored for five years to assess how effective the treatments are. Dr Grosset announced that “this, in itself, will speed up our ultimate goal – to develop a cure for Parkinson’s.”

Parkinson’s disease is a neurological condition affecting mood, movement and speech. Until now, a cure had been just a dream, but huge developments in treatments such as Neuromodulation or Deep Brain Stimulation are hoping to lead the way in curing this debilitative condition.