How to Learn More About Parkinson's

Parkinson's disease affects the nerve cells in the brain that control muscle movement. Trembling, slowness, stiffness and loss of balance or coordination are symptoms of Parkinson's. Although there is currently no cure for Parkinson's disease, a number of drugs can help manage symptoms. Learning more about Parkinson's is easy, thanks to a number of online resources developed by government organizations, professional associations, patient groups and research foundations.

Instructions

Learn More About Parkinson's Disease

• 1

  Use resources developed by governmental organizations. The National Institutes of Health has multiple resources online to learn more about Parkinson's. The NIH's National Library of Medicine provides a medical encyclopedia online that provides detailed background about the disease, links to further reading and information developed by leading researchers in the field. The NIH institute that focuses on Parkinson's research also has an information page about the disease, with links to additional information and organizations currently working on a cure.

• 2

  Explore resources created by patient advocacy groups and research foundations. A number of organizations have sprouted up in response to the need for patient and caregiver support, as well as the need for more research dollars to find a cure for the disease. These groups--such as the National Parkinson Foundation or the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research--have robust websites containing information about the disease, tools to help find support groups or doctors in your area, information about upcoming clinical trials and, in some cases, patient forums where patients or caregivers can interact online to support one another.

• 3

  Learn about Parkinson's through information hosted by professional organizations or associations. The American Academy of Neurology and The Parkinson's Institute and Clinical Center all have developed online modules to help the public learn more about the disease. Some resources (such as those developed by The Parkinson's Institute) also help you participate in research that the sponsoring group is conducting.

• 4

  Talk to your doctor. Although the resources developed by professional, clinical, patient and government groups are thorough and easily available, reading through all of that information can seem overwhelming. Talk to your family doctor if you have questions about Parkinson's. Your doctor can also help explain any of the materials you find using the resources developed by these groups focused on Parkinson's.