LOOKING FOR SOMETHING TO DO

There are people who truly have made a difference with their contribution to medicine.  Sir Alexander Fleming discovered the science that eventually led to penicillin.  Robert Jarvik designed the Jarvik-7 artificial heart, which kept Barney Clark alive for 112 days.  Wilhelm Roentgen discovered the x-ray.  Louis Pasteur originated the science of vaccines.

People who don't have a science background also lend their talents to generate funds necessary to perform the research that improves medicine.  Michael J. Fox created a foundation to fund PD research and is doing quite well at it.  Who hasn't spent at least one Labor Day weekend watching the Jerry Lewis telethon raise money for muscular dystrophy research?  How many times have we seen the infamous pink ribbon?  We know that ribbon represents the fight to find a cure for breast cancer.  Nancy G. Brinker started that movement because of a promise she made to her sister as her sister died from breast cancer. 

There's a third way to contribute to the cause, though. Those of us who have Parkinson's Disease can make a different kind of contribution.  We can participate in research trials. 

I've scoured the trials listed in the link I've included with this posting.  I haven't found anything yet.  I thought I found one for which I would qualify that studied a new drug's effects on dementia, but the study requires someone who has not suffered from severe depression.  That knocked me out. But I find that kind of interesting. Depression is a symptom of Parkinson's.  It's also something that arises because one has Parkinson's.  So what percentage of the population out there that has Parkinson's would actually qualify for participation in this particular study? And who among us who recognizes that we suffer from the onset of Parkinson's dementia might not be depressed about that?

I'm going to keep looking.  Somewhere out there is a research project that needs a 55-year-old female, post-menopausal, bipolar II, early-stage Parkinson's patient diagnosed within the past 5 years whose daily medicine regime includes Lamictal, lithum, Requip, carpadopa/lovadopa, Wellbutrin, Adderall, Lunesta, Aricept and Prilosec.  (Please, I have a good friend who chides me daily for the amount of medicine I take.  I know it, and believe it or not, I have actually reduced the kinds and amounts I take.  Seriously, I'll have 3 kids in college next year - I have something better to do with the thousands of dollars I spend in a year on drugs, so I do not jump at the opportunity to add one to the list.  It just takes time.)

Think about it.  If you happen to be looking through a list of studies, perhaps to find one in which you can participate, and you see one that needs, well, you know - just look back to the preceding paragraph - let me know.

G