The National Black Church Initiative (NBCI), a coalition of 150,000 African African American churches and 27.7 million members are joining the Michael J. Fox Foundation, which is helping to raise awareness of Parkinson's Disease in the African American community. We are launching an educational pilot program in two cities: Houston, TX, and St. Louis, MO.

Parkinson’s is a progressive, neurodegenerative disorder. In other words, it is a lifelong condition that affects the brain and worsens over time. Parkinson’s happens when cells in the brain that produce dopamine stop working or die. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter, a chemical that sends messages between nerve cells or between nerve cells and muscle cells to help the body function. It plays many roles in the body and affects physical and mental functions.

Rev. Anthony Evans, President of the National Black Church Initiative, says, “We are both honored and proud of the Michael J. Fox Foundation for their brilliant research and advocacy concerning Parkinsons Disease. NBCI’s effort is governed by our commitment to increase education and clinical research awareness and opportunities for both African American clinicians and patients. Our vision is to work in partnership with the Foundation to create a level-one educational and clinical delivery system to educate and empower our members toward a cure for this dreadful disease. This partnership underscores our commitment to fulfilling the principles of the NBCI National Black Health Agenda.

The cardinal symptoms of Parkinson’s are resting tremors, rigidity, slowness of movement (also called bradykinesia), feeling unsteady and having difficulties with balance (also called postural instability). Because these symptoms are related to movement, they are called “motor symptoms,” Parkinson’s is classified as a “movement disorder.”

Research indicates that African Americans are significantly less likely to be diagnosed with Parkinson's disease compared to other racial groups, often receiving a diagnosis at a later stage of the disease due to factors like limited access to healthcare, historical exclusion from research studies, and potential biases in medical practices, leading to disparities in diagnosis and treatment within the Black community; this means that while the disease may affect African Americans, they are less likely to be identified as having it compared to other populations.

The Black Church Joins the Fight Against Parkinson’s Disease and is Working Toward a Cure

BlackParkD News

Who is at risk for Parkinson’s Disease?
Although the cause of most Parkinson's disease cases is unknown, researchers believe it is caused by multiple factors. Some of these risk factors include:

• Aging. The greatest risk factor for PD is aging, and researchers expect the number of people with PD to double by 2040 due to an aging population.
• Environment. Factors like head injury, pesticide exposure or stressors of military service (like traumatic brain injury or exposure burn pits) are associated with an increased risk of developing PD
• 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.
• In 2023, researchers found a GBA gene variant - tinyurl.com/yj78bdy3 that raises PD risk in people of African ancestry.

Download a copy of this important NBCI publication!