Health Emergency Declaration (HED)
Parkinson's disease (PD) is the world's fastest growing progressive neurodegenerative brain disease. An estimated one million people in the U.S. are living with PD.
This program collects and samples from more than 220 studies in over 60 location on six continents to uncover more about genetic drivers of Parkinson's diseaes. The Black and African American Connections to Parkinson's Disease study is one contributing study. It is recruiting at 11 U.S. sites, including Houston and St. Louis.
African Americans and Parkinson's Disease - Currently, about one million people in the U.S. have Parkinson's Disease (PD). The prevalence of PD in the Black and African American community is not exactly known. This is partly due to the limited inclusion of Black and African American people in research studies. Approximately 6% of all PD clinical trial participants are 'non-White'
Who is at risk for Parkinson's Disease? - Although the cause of most Parkinson's Disease cases are unknown, researchers believe multiple factors cause it. Some of these factors include: Aging. The greatest factor for PD is aging and researchers expect the number of people with PD to double by 2040 due to an aging population
Who is at risk for Parkinson's Disease? - Environment. Factors like head injury, pesticide exposure or stressors of military service (Like traumatic brain injury or exposure to burn pits) are associated with an increased risk of developing PD
Who is at risk for Parkinson's Disease? - Genetics. Researchers estimate about 30% of PD risk is explained by genetics. Several genes increase the risk of Parkinson's Disease (PD) but don't guarantee the disease
Disparities in Parkinson's Disease - African Americans with neurological diagnoses are less likely to see neurologists. Newly diagnosed African Americans with PD are less likely to recieve physical therapy or medications at their first appointment
Disparities in Parkinson's Disease - African Americans with Parkinson's Disease have higher rates of dementia diagnosis and lower rates of survival
Disparities in Parkinson's Disease - African Americans are less likely to receive deep brain stimulation
African Americans with neurological diagnoses are less likely to see neurologists
African Americans with Parkinson's Disease have higher rates of dementia diagnosis and lower rates of survival
As a Black man, Richard experienced ongoing disparities when alongside his wife Angela, they sought answere from multiple physicians: “We dont fit the profile. Some of the doctors said I'm taking it too serious. Some of them said, 'There's nothing wrong with you.'”
Parkinson's research advocate Richard Huckabee, age 65, shared his story with the leading scientific outlet STAT about the challenges he faced in his decade-long journey to receive a diagnosis and access to care
Symptoms of Parkinson's disease (PD) - Stiffness or rigidity - where someone may experience muscle stiffness
Parkinson's disease (PD) is the world's fastest growing progressive neurodegenerative brain disease. An estimated one million people in the U.S. are living with PD.
Symptoms of Parkinson's disease (PD) - Slowness or bradykenesia - where someone may experience decreased spontaneous and voluntary movement. This could look like slower walking, less arm swinging while walking, or decreased blinking or facial expressions
Symptoms of Parkinson's disease (PD) - Resting tremor - where someone may experience an rhythmic, involuntary shaking that occurs in a finger, hand or limb when relaxed and disappears during voluntary movement.
Symptoms of Parkinson's disease (PD) - Other symptoms are non-motor symptoms, sometimes called the ”invisible” symptoms of PD
Symptoms of Parkinson's disease (PD) - Constipation
Symptoms of Parkinson's disease (PD) - Low blood pressure
Symptoms of Parkinson's disease (PD) - Sexual, sweating and urine problems
Symptoms of Parkinson's disease (PD) - Mood and thinking changes
Symptoms of Parkinson's disease (PD) - Apathy (lack of interest)
Symptoms of Parkinson's disease (PD) - Cognitive (memory or thinking) problems
Symptoms of Parkinson's disease (PD) - Mood disturbances
Symptoms of Parkinson's disease (PD) - Hallucinations and delusions
Patient characteristics by Race, Income and Educational level
Disease severity (Unified Parkinson Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) score) and disability (Older Americans Resources and Services (OARS) subscore) by race, income and educational levle. For overal differences, P.0001 for each outcome
Disability and disease severityh of patients grouped by Race, Income and Educational level
Adjusted means by Race, Income and Educational level after controlling for the other 2 variables
Medications by Race, Educational Level and Income Chart showing disparities in Parkinson's Disease medicine