Parkinson’s Disease: The Importance of Clinical Trials

 

There is still a lot we don’t know about Parkinson’s, but clinical research and trials are changing that. “Improving your symptoms and maintaining an active and positive lifestyle,” is the foundation of learning to live with Parkinson’s disease (PD), according to the American Parkinson’s Disease Association. There is no cure for PD, but it is possible to manage symptoms through lifestyle changes and medications. Also, participating in clinical trials help improve healthcare detection and management for those with PD.

Clinical Research and Parkinson’s

Although there are typical symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease, intensity and progression vary significantly in each person. This means that one treatment plan may work for one person, but not for another. Motor symptoms include tremor, rigidity, slowed movement, postural instability, and walking or gait problems. Non-motor symptoms include sleep problems, changes in the sense of smell, fatigue, depression, and anxiety.

Clinical research is essential to improving care for many diseases such as Parkinson’s disease. Because there is such a variance of symptom severity and progression, everyone with PD must have access to effective treatments. Clinical trials help us better understand how safe and effective each newly discovered therapy is. Some medicines may even be already FDA approved for another condition but may be able to improve PD symptoms as well. However, no advancements can be made without volunteers participating in clinical research studies.

Benefits of Participating in Clinical Trials

 

 

 

Steve Sultanoff didn’t have great health insurance when he was younger and knew he had a cholesterol problem that ran in his family. He was put on statins, but they gave him terrible headaches. So, he decided to participate in clinical research. There, he received better healthcare and also helped discover new treatments that would benefit him. He has continued to participate in clinical research over the last 30 years and, along the way, received a cholesterol treatment that lowered his cholesterol with almost no side effects.

 

Better healthcare is one of the many benefits of participating in clinical research. Whether you have insurance or not, you receive regular care from leading healthcare professionals. Other benefits include:

  • You are learning more about your condition so you can better understand it.
  • Potential access to new cutting-edge therapies.
  • You are helping to improve healthcare not only for yourself but for future generations.
  • Many studies offer reimbursements for time and travel.

Taking part in clinical research studies is 100% voluntary and can be stopped at any time. Before you can even begin the process, the purpose of the study, any possible benefits, risks, number of visits, and duration of your participation are given to you upfront in the informed consent process. This ensures everyone has all the information they need to make the best decision for them about whether or not to join the study.

Brain Matters Research is seeking individuals to participate in an upcoming study for Parkinson’s Disease. To learn more about this opportunity, click here.

References:

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/participate-clinical-trial-171550974.html

https://www.parkinson.org/Understanding-Parkinsons/Treatment/Clinical-Trials

https://www.apdaparkinson.org/resources-support/living-with-parkinsons-disease/

 

STUDIES ARE ENROLLING NOW!

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