The Problem:
There are at least 11 million people diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease globally.
The number of Parkinson's patients over the age of 65 could double in the next ten years.
$3 Billion have been spent on Parkinson’s research since 2000 –
yet we still don’t understand what causes it, how to treat it, and how to cure it.
As patients with Parkinson’s, we are told that nothing can be done to halt or cure the disease.
Resolve Parkinson's refuses to accept that nothing can be done.
A Look Into the Problems We See
The critical importance of the patient voice is being ignored
Parkinson’s patients need to have a seat at the table throughout the clinical research process. Patient input into how resources are used is a critical missing element that will bring about change if broadly applied. Positioning the patient voice more powerfully will disrupt stagnation and drive change.
The system of care for Parkinson’s is poorly designed
The current system to assist people with Parkinson’s appears to have evolved without rational planning. Systemic issues include lack of patient access to Parkinson’s specific care, ineffective drug therapies, and a poorly socialized standard of care in health settings. This has led many patients to try to manage their care on their own.
There is a lack of access to Parkinson's-specific care
Most patients with Parkinson’s lack access to multidisciplinary teams of specialists including neurologists trained in Parkinson’s, movement disorder specialists, physical and occupational therapists, and mental health professionals. This team approach has proven to be the most effective model of care for Parkinson’s patients.
The current definition of Parkinson's as a movement disorder is too narrow
Parkinson’s is a multisystemic syndrome rather than solely a movement disorder limited to brain neurology. A focus on non-motor symptoms is critical to understanding how Parkinson’s evolves and how early intervention may slow or halt the disease.
Research Targets are Profit-Driven
The pharmaceutical industry ecosystem dictates where research funding is allocated. Patients with Parkinson’s need to be positioned as leaders in the fight to improve care and find a cure. Their voice needs to be a critical component of legislation and research targets.
Researchers are Asking the Wrong Questions
There is a dearth of creative thinking in the Parkinson’s field. Research priorities need to shift to include the investigation of a broader range of hypotheses concerning Parkinson’s origin and progression. Out-of-the-box thinking can spur innovation that may lead to a breakthrough towards better treatment and a cure.
Alternative therapies are excluded from research studies
Led by desperation and ineffective drug therapies, patients with Parkinson’s have found relief through lifestyle changes and treatments that aren’t patentable or otherwise able to be monetized. These approaches have been eschewed by the mainstream medical community.
