Better Brain Health | PPMI : The Study that Could Change Everything
PPMI : The Study that Could Change Everything
The Parkinson ’ s Progression Markers Initiative ( PPMI ) is changing how patients , families , doctors and scientists think about brain disease . Now it needs you .
The Michael J . Fox Foundation launched PPMI in 2010 to better understand Parkinson ’ s and advance new treatments . Since then , the study has changed how research is done and what scientists know about the brain . It is a cornerstone of our understanding of disease and has heavily influenced clinical trials . In 2021 , the study announced a major expansion to study the full spectrum of Parkinson ’ s — from those who have never experienced a symptom to those living with later-stage disease . Now at more than three dozen clinical sites in 11 countries , the study has added an online platform with the ambitious goal of enrolling as many as 100,000 people .
PPMI follows people — with and without Parkinson ’ s — over time to learn more about how disease starts and changes . That information may lead to insights and tools that can help better diagnose , treat and even prevent brain disease . The study shares its data set — the most robust in Parkinson ’ s research — with scientists in real time to speed breakthroughs . On average , its data is downloaded by researchers around the world more than 2,200 times a day .
This landmark initiative is only possible through partnerships . Leaders across the field and nearly 40 funding partners have helped shape PPMI . Most importantly , more than 1,400 participants enrolled in PPMI over its first decade . Many of those people continue in the study .
The more people who volunteer and share their data , the closer and faster we ’ ll get to better treatments for people living with Parkinson ’ s today and to preventing Parkinson ’ s for future generations . PPMI needs you .
Get started today at michaeljfox . org / ppmi-study .
54 The Michael J . Fox Foundation for Parkinson ’ s Research