Marios Politis is a Professor of Neurology who has collaborated with the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, the Parkinson’s Foundation (USA) and Parkinson’s UK for several years, receiving funding from the charities for his work. This article will look at what Parkinson’s disease is, providing an overview of the leading charities created to support people and families affected by the disease.
What Is Parkinson’s Disease?
In the United Kingdom today, around 145,000 people are believed to be living with Parkinson’s disease, the world’s fastest-growing neurological condition.
Parkinson’s is a progressive neurological illness that causes problems in the brain which worsen over time. Parkinson’s triggers degeneration of the brain’s nerve cells, leaving people with the disorder without enough of the chemical dopamine.
There are a variety of different therapies, treatments and avenues of support available to help people diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease to manage their condition.
The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research
To date, the Michel J. Fox Foundation has provided more than a billion in funding for Parkinson’s research programmes. Since the organization’s inception, it has operated with a single-minded goal: finding a cure for Parkinson’s disease. Operating an innovative, milestone-driven, high-risk approach to identify and accelerate those ideas with the greatest potential, the organization is committed to making a tangible impact on patients’ unmet needs while simultaneously striving to eradicate Parkinson’s altogether.
To date, investigations funded by the Michael J. Fox Foundation have resulted in over 20 early-stage therapeutic programmes, attracting follow-on funding from government, venture capital and pharmaceutical funders for continuing development.
Parkinson’s Foundation (USA)
The Parkinson’s Foundation was created with the vision and mission of improving the lives of people with Parkinson’s disease by improving Parkinson’s care and advancing research towards a cure. In all of the organization’s activities, it builds on the energy, passion and experience of its global Parkinson’s community.
Created by a merger of the Parkinson’s Disease Foundation and National Parkinson Foundation, the Parkinson’s Foundation has played a role in significant scientific advances of the last 60 years, improving lives worldwide.
Parkinson’s UK
Powered by people, Parkinson’s UK was founded in 1969 in a single-room office in Putney, London. Today, thanks to the charity’s network of expert staff, volunteers, researchers and health and social care professionals, Parkinson’s UK is making strides in terms of improving the lives of individuals with Parkinson’s disease across the UK. Parkinson’s UK works hard to provide support to people with Parkinson’s and their families and to bring forward better treatments, paving the way for a cure for the condition.
