FREE Educational “Research Roundtable” Symposium December 5, 2011

The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research and the Parkinson’s Research and Education Foundation (PREF) of Boca Raton are partnering to present a FREE Educational “Research Roundtable” Symposium at the Dawson Theatre in Boca Raton Regional Hospital (800 Meadows Road, Boca Raton) on Monday, December 5th from 1:00 p.m.to 4:00 p.m. The Educational “Research Roundtable” Symposium will feature Todd Sherer, PhD, CEO of the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, and Stuart H. Isaacson, MD, Medical Director of the Parkinson’s Research and Education Foundation, discussing the latest research studies and emerging therapies for Parkinson’s Disease. Parkinson’s patients and their family members are encouraged to attend this free round-table symposium. As part of the event (info at www.ParkinsonsCenter.org ), audience members will have the opportunity to take part in a Q&A session with two of the most highly regarded national experts in the field of Parkinson’s research.

The Educational “Research Roundtable” Symposium will be followed by a Parkinson’s Benefit Cocktail Fundraiser from 5:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m. at the newly opened Philippe Chow - Boca Raton, located at 200 East Palmetto Park Road in Boca Raton, FL. The cost to attend the fundraising event is $125.00 with proceeds being donated to fund Parkinson’s research, wellness, and educational programs. Guests will have the opportunity to mingle with Dr. Sherer, Dr. Isaacson and other representatives from the Michael J. Fox Foundation and the Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorders Center of Boca Raton, as they support a cause very near and dear to their hearts.

The public is invited to attend both the FREE Educational “Research Roundtable” Symposium and the Parkinson’s Benefit Cocktail Fundraiser. Space is limited, so please RSVP online at www.ParkinsonsCenter.org, to Elyse at elyse@ParkinsonsCenter.org or call 561.392.1818, ext. 7.

Parkinson's disease is an increasingly recognized neurological disorder that affects more than one million people in the United States, and more than five million worldwide. It is perhaps even more common in the aging population of South Florida, where Parkinson's prevalence may exceed more than one in 60 people. Average age at diagnosis is mid-60’s, but Parkinson’s disease is not uncommon to begin before age 50. There is presently no objective test or biomarker to diagnose Parkinson's disease, but a new research study is being sponsored by the Michael J. Fox Foundation at approximately 20 clinical research centers in the US, including the Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorders Center of Boca Raton. The Parkinson's Progression Markers Initiative (PPMI) is a landmark clinical study aiming to identify biomarkers of Parkinson's disease progression. The discovery of a Parkinson's biomarker is critical to developing treatments that can go beyond symptomatic relief to slow or stop the progression of Parkinson's disease.

Parkinson's disease was first characterized extensively by an English doctor, James Parkinson, in 1817. Today, we understand Parkinson's to be a neurological disorder that results from the loss of brain cells in various parts of the brain, including a region called the substantia nigra. The substantia nigra cells produce dopamine, a chemical messenger responsible for transmitting signals within the brain that allow for coordination of movement. Loss of dopamine causes neurons to fire without normal control, leaving patients less able to direct or control their movement. Parkinson's is the second most common neurodegenerative disease associated with aging, and is one of several diseases categorized as movement disorders.

About the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research
The Michael J. Fox Foundation is dedicated to finding a cure for Parkinson’s disease through an aggressively funded research agenda and to ensuring the development of improved therapies for those living with Parkinson’s today. The Foundation is dedicated to helping develop better treatments for Parkinson's patients and, ultimately, curing the disease. That's why we work to identify and quickly fund the research with the best chance of leading to new
treatments. The projects we fund generally fall into one of two categories: research exploring specific therapeutic approaches that will lead to the development of Parkinson's treatments and research to develop tools and resources that will, in turn, speed the creation of Parkinson's treatments. For more information, please visit www.michaeljfox.org.

About the Parkinson’s Research and Education Foundation (PREF)
The Parkinson’s Research and Education Foundation (PREF) is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit charitable organization (TIN# 20-0888895) whose mission is to support research initiatives and the projectSUNSHINE research database; educational and wellness programs; support groups and services; and regional and website outreach for patients with Parkinson's disease and their caregivers. PREF fills vital unmet needs by providing educational, wellness, and supportive activities that are crucial to help patients, caregivers and family members cope with the challenges that are encountered from diagnosis through the long-term treatment for Parkinson’s disease. Ongoing activities include:patient support groups, caregiver support groups, Parkinson’s 101 weekly lectures , Educational Symposium, dance therapy, Tai Chi, music therapy, chair yoga, art therapy, balance exercise class, Rise and Shout acting therapy, vestibular boxing PREF also provides support for projectSUNSHINE, an epidemiological longitudinal research database initiative which is one of the largest collections of epidemiological information on Parkinson’s disease in the elderly in the world. This research database has led to the presentation at scientific meetings on Parkinson’s disease of numerous studies identifying more optimal treatment strategies in Parkinson’s disease. For more information, please visit www.ParkinsonsCenter.org.

Official Website: http://www.ParkinsonsCenter.org