U.S. Department of Health and Human Services NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH NIH News National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) http://www.ninds.nih.gov/ FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Tuesday, October 11, 2005 CONTACT: Margo Warren, 301-496-5751, mw76v@xxxxxxx Science Reporters Briefing: NEW ADVANCES IN PARKINSON'S RESEARCH AND TREATMENT WHAT: The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) in partnership with the Parkinson's community is bringing together a panel of leading physicians, scientists, and caregivers to provide an overview of the newest advances in Parkinson's disease. Researchers will discuss genetic aspects of the disease, new approaches to therapeutics, and environmental and other factors that may impact onset of Parkinson's. Panelists will discuss their work and respond to questions from the audience. WHY: After Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's is the most common neurodegenerative disorder. There are an estimated 6.3 million people worldwide suffering from Parkinson's disease. Because of the aging world population, and given that the number of older Americans will more than double to 70 million by 2030, now is the time to begin gaining a better understanding of diseases, such as Parkinson's, that have a significant impact on older adults. WHO: Experts in Parkinson's disease will make brief remarks. A session for questions and answers will follow each speaker. -- Story Landis, Ph.D., Director, NINDS -- J. Timothy Greenamyre, M.D., Ph.D., University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Environmental Influences and Parkinson's Disease (PD) -- Robert L. Nussbaum, M.D., National Human Genome Research Institute, Genetics of PD -- Peter T. Lansbury, Jr., Ph.D., Brigham and Women's Hospital, Drug Discovery for PD -- Clive Svendsen, M.D., University of Wisconsin-Madison, Future Therapeutic Approaches -- Monique Giroux, M.D., The Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Caring for Patients with PD Across the Clinical Spectrum -- Morton Kondracke, Author of "Saving Milly", Caregiver's Perspective WHEN: Thursday, October 20, 2005, 10:00 a.m. ET WHERE: The Dana Center 900 15th St, NW, Washington, DC MARK YOUR CALENDAR! The first World Parkinson Congress will be held February 22-26, 2006, in Washington, D.C. For more information, visit www.worldpdcongress.org. The NINDS, a component of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, is the nation's primary supporter of basic, translational, and clinical research on the brain and nervous system. The NINDS aims to reduce the burden of neurological disease among all Americans. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) -- "The Nation's Medical Research Agency" -- includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services. It is the primary Federal agency for conducting and supporting basic, clinical, and translational medical research, and it investigates the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases. For more information about NIH and its programs, visit http://www.nih.gov. ## This NIH News Release is available online at: http://www.nih.gov/news/pr/oct2005/ninds-11.htm. To subscribe (or unsubscribe) from this list, go to http://list.nih.gov/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=nihpress&A=1.
