Biggest-yet study into Parkinson’s planned

Parkinson’s UK is investing more than £1.6m in the Tracking Parkinson’s research to learn more about the illness and improve chances of finding a cure.

The charity needs both people who have been diagnosed within the last three years and those aged under 50 when they were diagnosed.

The research, timed to coincide with the star of Parkinson’s Awareness Week, will be led by Dr Donald Grosset from the University of Glasgow and will eventually link to around 50 centres around the UK.

The study hopes to identify elusive biomarkers for Parkinson’s, such as signpost indicators in the blood. These could then help develop simple tests for diagnosis.

An early diagnosis is crucial if doctors are to be able to prescribe the right drugs for people with Parkinson’s to control and, one day, cure the illness, Parkinson’s UK said.

Symptoms of the illness include tremors, movement problems, anxiety, memory lapses and digestion problems. Such symptoms will be closely monitored for up to five years as part of the study.