Cures Won’t Happen
Without Research
I could not practice medicine without doing
research. I see people who have had Parkinson’s
disease for 20 or 30 years as they deal with
the limitations and complications of current
therapies. I w ant to be part of the process of
making it better for patients in the future, and
that march forward to a place where people don’t
ever have to have Parkinson’s.
That’s what people with Parkinson’s want: a cure.
And we are getting there — I am so optimistic
— but it’s not going to happen without research
and volunteers.
I tell people, there’s a comfort level for everybody
— an observational study or an intervention trial,
however you’re comfortable. Do you want to be
part of a Phase II trial with a lumbar puncture?
Maybe yes; maybe no. Do you want to fill out
a form so we can look at some environmental
interactions? Why not? There’s a comfort level
for everyone.
And every level of participation is informative.
The clinical trials of new therapies are obviously
important, but clinical observations can be
critical. The little stuff matters, too.
People have different motivations for enrolling
in research. I go back and forth with one of my
patients: Is research participation altruistic or
selfish? It can be self-serving, but you’re also
helping everybody. It is one of the few times in life
when you can be selfish and altruistic at the same
time. How often can you say that?
Dr. Susan Bressman is the Mirken Chair and
professor of neurology at Icahn School of Medicine
at Mount Sinai in New York City.
Watch more of Susan’s story at michaeljfox.org/ParticipantPack.
s e i l i m
a F d n a 2 s —
t n e Research
i t a P s ’ n o Participation
s n i k r a P r o f Chapter
e throughout
d i u G A 1 —
: s l Your
a Clinical
i r T l Parkinson’s
a c i n Research
i l C g n i t Journey
a Basics
g i v a N
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