As a research geek who has researched and written dozens of articles about Parkinson’s disease (PD), let me assure you there is a lot of bad information out there. But there is also a lot of good. It just takes a little wisdom to know the difference.
Reading information that’s less than accurate will—as they say in the South—scare the livin’ daylights out of you. And when you’re not feeling well to start with, you don’t need to be more anxious about anything.
So do yourself a favor: When researching Parkinson’s (or any other chronic condition), seek reputable sources written by experts. Major medical institutions provide a wealth of reliable information. One of the best is Johns Hopkins Medicine in Baltimore.
In 1998, Johns Hopkins was selected as site as one of nine Morris K. Udall Parkinson’s Disease Research Centers of Excellence in the country. At present, scientists there are focused on four research projects. There is an ongoing commitment to finding answers — and ultimately a cure—for Parkinson’s. And in 2016, the research team at Hopkins made a huge breakthrough by identifying a protein linked to the progression of PD.
Bottom line: Johns Hopkins knows a lot about Parkinson’s.
The Johns Hopkins website has comprehensive, yet easy to understand information about Parkinson’s and its movement and non-movement symptoms, treatments, research and more. Complex medical terms are defined in language that people without an MD behind their names can actually understand. If you’re into research (like me) you can check out their latest clinical trials and even contact the trial coordinator for more info.
But my favorite feature on the site is the Community Education page. This provides links to a free newsletter, lists of Parkinson’s support groups in Maryland, Delaware, Virginia and the Washington D.C. area, and a calendar of events sponsored by Johns Hopkins.
If you’re looking for a solid source of PD information, this is a great place to start.
