Parkinson disease (PD)

Parkinson disease is a movement disorder. In PD, the parts of the brain controlling smoothness and ease of movement slowly begin to lose proper function. The first symptoms often include dragging a leg or foot, trembling hand, and slowness or stiffness in movement. Later symptoms include problems with balance. Parkinson disease is progressive. Medications can improve the symptoms, but cannot yet cure or reliably slow progression of the disorder.

The Morris K. Udall Parkinson Disease Center of Excellence Program was established by the 1998 passage of Senate Bill 535. The program was established in honor of the late Arizona congressman, who fought a long battle with Parkinson disease. The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) funds the program and provides a total of $73 million to eleven universities studying Parkinson disease.

In 1999, HIHG faculty member Dr. Jeffery M. Vance received one of the eleven Parkinson Disease Research Centers of Excellence awards. An additional five years of funding was awarded in 2004 by NIH peer-review (NINDS). The HIHG Parkinson research team utilizes state-of-the-art methods in its search to find the genes that may contribute to the cause of Parkinson disease.

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