## Breadcrumb - [Home](/) - [Living with Parkinson's](/living-with-parkinsons) - [My PD Story](/living-with-parkinsons/stories) ## Breadcrumb - [Home](/) - [Living with Parkinson's](/living-with-parkinsons) - [My PD Story](/living-with-parkinsons/stories) # My PD Story ![Jacob Simmering Headshot](/sites/default/files/styles/470x550/public/images/Jacob%20Simmering%20headshot_0.png?h=c9aea1bc&itok=tD6xHs7c) Researchers ## Jacob Simmering, PhD ***2025 Stanley Fahn Junior Faculty Award*** ### Scanning Healthcare Data to Improve Earlier Detection and Diagnosis of PD Parkinson’s disease (PD) can be difficult to diagnose by clinicians, especially in [early stages](/understanding-parkinsons/what-is-parkinsons/stages "Stages of Parkinson's") of the disease. This means that some people with PD may get diagnoses only late in the disease when the symptoms are more obvious. Others may never get a formal diagnosis at all. Jacob Simmering, PhD, recipient of a [Parkinson’s Foundation Stanley Fahn Junior Faculty Award](/advancing-research/for-researchers/awards-independent-investigators "Awards for Independent Investigators"), is digging through healthcare data to find clues that could lead to earlier and more accurate diagnoses of PD. Using statistical analysis, he hopes to identify diagnostic patterns that commonly precede PD and that could be used as future medical signposts, guiding doctors toward earlier detection of the disease. > “This research will enable us to improve the timeliness of detection and diagnosis of Parkinson's disease.” – Dr. Simmering ![Jacob Simmering Lab](/sites/default/files/styles/380x361/public/images/Jacob%20Simmering%20Lab.png?itok=yi8Q3D5z) From his lab at the University of Iowa, a Parkinson’s Foundation [Center of Excellence](/living-with-parkinsons/finding-care/global-care-network "Global Care Network"), Dr. Simmering is utilizing health insurance databases to collect healthcare data on nearly 250,000 deidentified people recently diagnosed with PD. From this information, he hopes to identify a “diagnostic window” for PD—a stretch of time with repeated doctor’s visits for PD-like symptoms signaling the presence of the disease. Dr. Simmering will then use this diagnostic window as a frame, looking at people with recent diagnoses and figuring out what prevented physicians from diagnosing PD sooner. His hypothesis is that the three biggest factors that play into delayed diagnoses are: - Unique symptom patterns of PD - Living in more rural areas - Not being seen by a neurologist Sorting through this data will provide evidence for other repeated symptoms that could clue doctors into a PD diagnosis earlier. While tremor and involuntary movements are most commonly used to lead to a PD diagnosis, other symptoms like [urinary problems](/library/fact-sheets/urinary-problems "Urinary Problems in Parkinson's Disease") and [anxiety](/understanding-parkinsons/non-movement-symptoms/anxiety "Anxiety") could be just as valuable. Altogether, Dr. Simmering will use this detailed analysis to generate a forward-looking “risk score” to identify people who are most at risk of developing PD. “These results will allow us to screen for people who have symptoms and characteristics similar to people who will go on to be diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, potentially allowing for earlier detection of disease,” said Dr. Simmering. Earlier detection means providing symptom relief sooner to those with the disease, improving their quality of life with early treatment. **Meet more Parkinson’s researchers! Explore our** [My PD Stories featuring PD researchers](/living-with-parkinsons/stories "My PD Story")**.** ## Related Materials Fact Sheets ### [ Getting Involved in Research ](/library/fact-sheets/research) [Read Now](/library/fact-sheets/research) Fact Sheets ### [ Genetics ](/library/fact-sheets/genetics) [Read Now](/library/fact-sheets/genetics) Books ### [ Women and Parkinson's Research and Care Agenda ](/library/books/women-research-care-agenda) [Read Now](/library/books/women-research-care-agenda) ## More Stories from the Parkinson's community ![Wilma van de Berg](/sites/default/files/styles/340x400/public/images/Wilma%20Van%20Berg%20Headshot.png?h=c9aea1bc&itok=h2_ydEqq) Researchers ### [ Wilma van de Berg ](/living-with-parkinsons/stories/wilma-van-de-berg) READ NOW ![Heba Deraz, MD, PhD Headshot](/sites/default/files/styles/340x400/public/images/Heba%20Deraz%2C%20MD%2C%20PhD.png?h=c9aea1bc&itok=1EZm7iUx) Researchers ### [ Heba Deraz, MD, PhD ](/living-with-parkinsons/stories/heba-deraz) READ NOW ![Patrick Lewis, PhD headshot](/sites/default/files/styles/340x400/public/images/Patrick%20Lewis%2C%20PhD.png?h=c9aea1bc&itok=gfrtN2FK) Researchers ### [ Patrick Lewis, PhD ](/living-with-parkinsons/stories/patrick-lewis) READ NOW [VIEW ALL STORIES](/living-with-parkinsons/stories) ### Share your Story Do you have an experience with Parkinson's that you would like to share? [SUBMIT YOUR STORY](/living-with-parkinsons/my-pd-story/submit) ### Join the PD GENEration Today PD GENEration is an initiative that offers genetic testing and genetic counseling at no cost for people with Parkinson’s disease. [ENROLL NOW](/advancing-research/our-research/pdgeneration) - Share on Facebook - Share on X - Share on LinkedIn