Neurons, the cells that carry information in our brain and nervous system, have puzzled researchers for decades. Depending on their location and role in the body, neurons can vary wildly in shape and activity, with some stretching up to three feet long. Their size and structure also create challenges for neurons to stay healthy and functional. 

The dopamine-producing neurons in the brain progressively lost in Parkinson’s disease (PD) are no exception. How the disease may impact the cells’ critical maintenance is still not well understood.

Inés Patop, PhD, recipient of a Parkinson’s Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowship, is using new biological tools to improve our understanding of not just how PD may affect neuronal upkeep, but specifically where it is most damaging within the cell and how we can use that knowledge to design more efficient therapies.  

“There are certain cells in the brain that deteriorate with time,” said Dr. Patop. “These cells have certain vulnerabilities that make them more sensitive to Parkinson’s disease. My work studies these vulnerabilities and why these cells degenerate, with a focus on mitochondria, the powerhouse of the cell that becomes defective in Parkinson’s and how we can find new therapies to avoid the degeneration of these neurons.”

Parkinson’s disease has been associated with mitochondria misfunction for more than 30 years, and several PD-associated genetic mutations are involved in the process of clearing defective mitochondria. 

The challenge is that the blueprints needed to maintain, repair and remove damaged mitochondria come from the nucleus in the soma. To maintain the mitochondria in the neurites (see box), the neuron needs to print and transport those blueprints (called RNA) across the cell. That process requires coordination, which is likely disrupted in neurons affected by PD-associated mutations.  

Think of individual mitochondria as power plants located in different parts of a large city. Each power plant operates on its own but needs to receive materials to function; if the materials don’t arrive, there are failures. Therefore, power plants that are far away from the distribution center (the cell’s soma) are more prone to failure.

The process of generating the necessary materials for a power plant to function, by combining its own materials with materials from the distribution center (the soma’s nucleus), is called "mito-nuclear balance.” When this balance is disrupted, cellular stress occurs. Parkinson’s disease is associated with the failure of various processes that ensure correct mito-nuclear balance.

From the lab of Dr. Stirling Churchman at Harvard University in Boston, MA, Dr. Patop:

• Utilizes special growing chambers that will allow them to isolate and study the soma and neurites of neurons individually. 

• Then run complex biochemical tests to see how RNA printing and transport, mitochondria repair and more differ between the distinct cell regions, and how each is affected by PD mutations. 

From this data, Dr. Patop hopes to better understand how PD may affect neurons differently from soma to dendrites, potentially leading to new future treatments that target the most impacted regions of the cells.

“My work focuses on understanding basic biology about the neurons that degenerate in Parkinson’s,” said Dr. Patop. “Through this research, we expect to identify new regulatory mechanisms implicated in PD, potentially identifying novel drug targets for treatment.”

“The impact of this research could significantly advance our understanding of PD and pave the way for innovative therapeutic strategies.” - Dr. Patop

Dr. Patop said this award has not only help fund their research but has connected them with a community of scientists who are also focused on Parkinson’s disease, as well as people with PD and their families, which has been very impactful. They are grateful to the Parkinson’s Foundation for investing in basic research. 

“Without basic research like this, new treatments would not be possible” said Dr. Patop. “I think we are just at the moment where things are coming through, so if we continue on this path and support this type of research, we are going to see really great advances in the prognosis of Parkinson’s disease.”

Meet more Parkinson’s researchers! Explore our My PD Stories featuring PD researchers.

On July 7, 2016, two leading Parkinson’s organizations — the National Parkinson Foundation (NPF) and the Parkinson’s Disease Foundation (PDF), both founded in 1957 — united to form the Parkinson’s Foundation. Together, they built on nearly 60 years of shared commitment to people living with Parkinson’s disease (PD).

Through 10 years of progress the Parkinson’s Foundation has transformed lives by raising the standard of PD care, advancing groundbreaking research and empowering people with PD and their families at every stage of the journey. Today, with offices in New York City, Miami and Washington, D.C., the growing non-profit continues to drive progress toward better treatments — and ultimately, a cure.

“While we’re excited for the work ahead, our first 10 years as the Parkinson’s Foundation have shown what is possible through collaboration, innovation and the unwavering dedication of our community. I am excited and hopeful that, through our evolving research and care initiatives, the next 10 years will bring transformative breakthroughs.” 

— John Lehr, Parkinson’s Foundation President and Chief Executive Officer

Here are some of the major milestones we’ve achieved in the last 10 years: 

1. Increased annual revenue from $22 million to more than $80 million.

This amazing growth reflects the rising impact of Parkinson’s disease and the generosity of a growing community determined to make an impact. Increased funding has allowed us to expand groundbreaking research, improve care initiatives, raise awareness and launch innovative educational resources and programs designed to meet the evolving needs of the PD community. 

2. Launched a first-of-its-kind international genetics study. 

In 2019, we launched PD GENEration: Powered by the Parkinson’s Foundation. Since then, the genetics study has empowered participants with genetic insights that can help them understand their disease better while accelerating clinical trial development for new treatments. 

In just six years, PD GENEration has: 

• Enrolled more than 35,000 participants around the world, providing genetic testing and counseling at no cost.
• Designed and introduced an at-home genetic test to reach people in rural areas.
• Hosted international educational events focused on Parkinson’s and genetics.
• Shared study findings with the global research community to accelerate scientific discovery.  

Learn More & Enroll

3. Invested millions in research grants to fuel scientific discovery.

At a time when federal funding for disease research is being challenged, we have accelerated research funding over the last decade, investing more than $180 million in research for a total investment of $513.5 million since the Foundation’s inception.

We are funding more scientists than ever before. From 1957 through 2016, the Foundation supported 400 scientists. In the last 10 years, we have funded 375 more, greatly accelerating our pace of funding. Every year, Foundation-funded research drives innovation in areas such as the development of new therapies, earlier PD detection, how to leverage AI, and ultimately, a cure. Meet our researchers.

Paolo Moretti, MD

2025 Trailblazer Award 

Scanning Family Trees for Hidden Parkinson's Risk Factors 

READ MORE

Catherine (Chi) Weindel, PhD

2019 Postdoctoral Fellowship
2022 Launch Award

Investigating the Link Between Parkinson’s, Genetics and the Immune System

READ MORE

Hikaru Kamo, MD, PhD

2025 Melvin Yahr Parkinson’s Disease Clinical Research Award

Improving Deep Brain Stimulation Using Artificial Intelligence

READ MORE

4. Supported local PD communities through more than 879 health and wellness programs. 

Our Community Grants support local, life-enhancing Parkinson’s programs across the U.S. — from dance and boxing classes to support groups. These programs encourage community while improving physical and mental well-being for participants. In 2025, we funded 92 local PD programs across 38 states, reaching more than 11,000 people with PD.

Additionally, we strengthened our chapter network to connect people with Parkinson’s and caregivers to local resources, support groups, classes and educational programs — while hosting local events like Moving Day.

Find Your Chapter

5. Launched policy and advocacy efforts at the federal and state levels. 

We formally entered the policy arena — advancing advocacy efforts that protect Parkinson’s research and access to care at the federal and state levels. Our policy priorities aim to: 

• Increase research support toward better treatments and a cure
• Strengthen care systems
• Expand access to high-quality education tools and resources
• Promote prevention strategies, including efforts to reduce exposure to environmental threats tied to Parkinson’s

Take action now using our newly launched Advocacy Center. 

6. Updated the Go-To Source of Information on PD: Parkinson.org 

With more than 8 million visitors in 2025, Parkinson.org is the go-to resource for the PD community, helping connect people to the information they need. New features include: 

• Online courses for everyone in the PD community, including healthcare providers on our Learning Lab.
• More than 90 Spanish webpages, blog articles and a dedicated Spanish PD Library. 
• Visitors can choose their own accessibility features. 
• Launch of PAM, our AI chat tool, that provides evidence-based answers about Parkinson’s — anytime, anywhere.

In 10 years, the Foundation has provided a non-stop tranche of resources in our PD Library, including our Newly Diagnosed Guide, new Parkinson’s Today blog articles and podcast episodes. In response to COVID, we also launched PD Health @ Home — a virtual series that continues to provide new webinars, mindfulness and exercises programs every month. 

7. Driving new treatments through a joint drug discovery initiative. 

In 2022, the Parkinson’s Foundation entered into a partnership with Parkinson’s UK to power Parkinson’s Virtual Biotech, a global initiative accelerating PD drug discovery and development. In 2025, two new drugs advanced into clinical trials — clear evidence that early investment sparks innovation and reduces the risk of funding for future investors, while speeding up the development of new Parkinson’s therapies. Learn more.

8. Expanded the Global Care Network to reach more people.  

In the last 10 years, around 900,000 people have been diagnosed with Parkinson’s in the U.S. This is why we are committed to empowering people with PD to find expert care. To meet this need, we expanded our Global Care Network to connect more people with expert care. 

We have gone from providing care to 145,000 people with Parkinson’s and other movement disorders across 45 centers in 2016 to treating 364,739 people across 62 centers in 2026. 

We have added a new center designation — Comprehensive Care Centers — that feature a specialized team expert in Parkinson’s treatments — and Community Partners in Parkinson’s Care, a membership program for senior living communities and home health care agencies trained in PD care.

Find a designated Parkinson’s center near you. 

9. Making Hospitals Safer for people with Parkinson’s

One in 6 people with Parkinson’s will experience avoidable complications in the hospital. This is why we launched the Hospital Care Initiative to improve hospital care for people with Parkinson’s through nationwide, systemic changes. We also created the Hospital Safety Guide to help people advocate for their best care when in the hospital.   

10. Offering unwavering, continued support through our Helpline in English and Spanish.

Our Helpline connects people with Parkinson’s, caregivers, families and healthcare professionals to key PD information and tailored resources. 

Contact our Helpline at 1-800-4PD-INFO (1-800-473-4636) and Helpline@Parkinson.org.

11. Appointed our first Chief Medical Officer. 

We appointed Sneha Mantri, MD, MS, as our first-ever Chief Medical Officer. Dr. Mantri, a Movement Disorder Specialist from Duke University Medical Center, provides medical and clinical care leadership across our care initiatives, helping ensure our programs meet the needs of people with Parkinson’s. Her leadership allows us to elevate important topics she’s seen first-hand as a neurologist, including how to address stigma and Parkinson’s. 

12. Building community through local events. 

Moving Day, A Walk for Parkinson’s, continues to unite PD communities across the country, raise awareness and embrace the power of exercise which is proven to help manage Parkinson’s symptoms. In the last 10 years, Moving Day has raised $38.9 million and hosted 410 events nationwide.

Additionally, six years ago we launched our second signature event, Parkinson’s Revolution. This in-person or virtual cycling experience generates awareness and raises funds that advance PD research, resources and better care for people with Parkinson’s.

Thank you to the supporters who make progress possible and fuel the impactful work that moves us forward. In the next 10 years and beyond we will build momentum, together, to find better treatments, and ultimately a cure. Find out how you can help. 

The World Parkinson Congress is an international conference that brings the Parkinson’s disease (PD) community together — from people living with PD and care partners, to healthcare professionals, researchers and organizations working to make life better for people with Parkinson’s. This year, thousands will attend the event dedicated to Parkinson’s research and care in Phoenix, AZ, from May 24 to 27.

Below are the 14 scientific posters the Parkinson’s Foundation is sharing at the seventh World Parkinson Congress:

RESEARCH FINDINGS

These posters focus on how we are making PD research more inclusive and why it is essential to involve people with Parkinson’s in the research process.

SEE ALL RESEARCH POSTERS

1. PD GENEration Sub-Studies: The Next Step to Engaging People with Parkinson’s in Research

PD GENEration: Powered by the Parkinson’s Foundation is an international research initiative offering at no cost genetic testing and counseling for people living with Parkinson’s. The Parkinson’s Foundation has launched four new sub-studies as an extension to PD GENEration. 

These include:

1. PD GENEration Surveys: polls all PD GENEration participants on topics of interest in the PD community, such as environmental exposures and changes in diagnosis or medications.

2. PD GENEration Family: offers genetic testing and counseling at no cost to parents, siblings or children (all over the age of 40) of eligible PD GENEration participants.

3. PD GENEration Insights: collects expanded clinical data for eligible PD GENEration participants through self-report questionnaires and virtual clinician visits.

4. PD GENEration Explore: collects plasma and administers smell identification tests to PD GENEration participants.

Main takeaways:

• The four new PD GENEration sub-studies offer, for the first time, additional research opportunities to participants, further expanding engagement in research.

• This expanded data collected contributes to the research community and helps researchers further their work to find a cure for PD. 

2. PD Trial Navigator: Personalized Guidance on Clinical Trial Enrollment for People Living with PD 

The Parkinson’s Foundation PD Trial Navigator is a new program designed to help people with Parkinson’s better understand and access clinical trials. It aims to accelerate enrollment in genetic and disease-modifying clinical trials, build a trial-ready community and empower people with Parkinson’s to make informed decisions about participating in research. The program builds on PD GENEration, using surveys and focus groups to understand barriers to research participation. It provides personalized support through one-on-one guidance, educational materials and direct connections to trial opportunities. 

Main takeaways:

• Many people with Parkinson’s are interested in clinical trials but face barriers such as limited awareness, travel challenges and complex eligibility requirements.

• Personalized guidance and education can significantly improve understanding and engagement in clinical research.

• The Parkinson’s Foundation PD Trial Navigator program can help bridge the gap between genetic testing and participation in precision medicine trials.

3. Assessing Provider Performance in Simulated Genetic Counseling Sessions Within the PD GENEration — LARGE-PD study

This poster analyzed PD GENEration-related genetic counseling training delivered by Indiana University genetic counselors to clinicians in the Latin American Research Consortium on the GEnetics of Parkinson’s Disease (LARGE-PD).It reviewed strengths and weaknesses identified during mock genetic counseling sessions by analyzing 46 video feedback forms from two training cycles.

Main takeaways:

• All clinicians who completed video feedback after their first video successfully met competency expectations. 

• These results suggest that structured, iterative training programs can be an effective approach for standardizing and strengthening genetic counseling skills, which are essential for providers returning genetic results to people with Parkinson’s disease.

4. Building Genetic Counseling Capacity in Latin America to Facilitate the Sharing of Genetic Results with PD GENEration Participants — LARGE-PD study

This poster summarized the development and implementation of a genetic counseling training program for clinicians in Latin America participating in the LARGE-PD study. The program prepared clinicians to return genetic test results to people with Parkinson’s through counseling sessions. It evaluates the effectiveness of this training using feedback from mock counseling sessions and certification outcomes.

Main takeaways:

• 46 video feedback forms across two training cycles showed that clinicians improved after structured feedback and successfully met competency expectations.

• 32 clinicians across 12 countries were trained and certified, ensuring access to genetic counseling at every LARGE-PD site.

• Structured, iterative training programs can effectively build local expertise, improving access to genetic information for people with Parkinson’s in Latin America.

  

CARE FINDINGS

These studies focus on how to improve care for people with Parkinson’s. 

SEE ALL CARE POSTERS

5. The National Roundtable on Parkinson’s Care and Innovation: A Multidisciplinary, Multi-Sector Convening Aimed at Addressing the Most Pressing Challenges in Parkinson’s Care

The U.S. faces a growing Parkinson’s care crisis as PD prevalence rises and shortages of trained health professionals limit access to quality care. The National Parkinson’s Project, the first federal legislation dedicated to ending PD, directs the Department of Health and Human Services to advance prevention, diagnosis, treatment and cures for Parkinson’s and related disorders. As a national leader in Parkinson’s care and to help guide PD care priorities, we held a National Roundtable on Parkinson’s Care and Innovation on September 4, 2025.

Main takeaways:

• The Roundtable brought together experts across disciplines and industries, including people with PD and care partners. 

• Discussion led to a multiyear roadmap to transform PD care through policy reform and action: Parkinson's Care and Innovation: A Patient-Centered Agenda for Change.

• The agenda outlines four priority solutions to guide the National Parkinson’s Project: building community clinician capability, developing a sustainable and integrated care model, defining a minimum clinical dataset, and prioritizing patient-centered technologies.

Learn more about our Policy Priorities

6. Prioritizing the Improvement of Hospital Care for People with Parkinson’s Disease through the Parkinson’s Foundation Hospital Care Initiative

This poster details how the Parkinson’s Foundation is leading the national effort to improve hospital care for people with Parkinson’s through systemic changes in policy, technology, culture and education. Our Hospital Care Initiative aims to eliminate preventable harm and promote higher reliability in care for people with PD in the hospital.

Main takeaways: 

• The Parkinson’s Foundation is actively working with more than 50 Health Systems to improve care for people with Parkinson’s in their hospitals. 

• We are raising awareness and building partnerships to continue to expand our reach. 

• We are funding and leading research projects to show how negative hospital outcomes can be addressed through specific solutions designed to improve hospital care for people with PD.  

7. Optimizing PD Care: Empowering People with Parkinson’s Before, During and Between Appointments 

Healthcare appointments are critical opportunities for people with Parkinson’s and their healthcare teams to improve quality of life. However, PD appointments can feel overwhelming. People with PD and clinicians report challenges with making the most of their time together. The Optimizing Parkinson’s Care Initiative aims to provide education, training and resources to empower people with PD to become more active partners in their PD care.  

Main takeaways:

• We collaborated with people with PD, care partners, clinicians and health literacy experts to create resources focused on making the most of PD care, through actionable steps taken before, during and between appointments.  

• There is an emphasis on self-reflection, self-education, self-advocacy and understanding that speaking up about lived experience is a trusted and essential part of the appointment.  

• The Optimizing Care webpage and Steps to Prepare for a Parkinson’s Appointment worksheet guide people with PD to select their top three priorities based on what’s most impacting their daily life, what’s most time sensitive, and what matters to most to them.  

8. Community Partners in Parkinson’s Care: A Survey of Current Site Champions of the Program

Community Partners in Parkinson’s Care educates and prepares staff in senior living communities and home care agencies to provide better care for people with Parkinson’s across the U.S. Currently the program serves 97 partners within 27 states. This program has trained more than 30,000 direct care providers. This poster shares outcomes of a recent survey of site champions. Site Champions ensure ongoing required staff training, collect program outcomes on a semi-annual basis and maintain communication and collaboration with Community Partners program staff.

Main takeaways:

• Surveys showed improvements in Parkinson’s care, including better medication accuracy and timeliness, more comprehensive care plans, increased exercise integration and greater staff awareness of effective communication and individualized care needs.

• Limited staffing and time for training were identified as the biggest challenges in ongoing success of the program.

• Survey results will be used for future program modifications and updates.

9. Online Learning Preferences of Healthcare Providers Caring for People with Parkinson’s 

This poster explores how healthcare providers prefer to learn through online continuing education (CE) when caring for people with Parkinson’s. A survey of nearly 5,000 professionals found that most prefer live or recorded webinars lasting one to two hours, especially when content is directly relevant to clinical practice. These findings will help guide the development of more accessible, engaging, and effective educational programs. 

Main takeaways:

• Healthcare providers prefer clinically relevant, interactive and flexible online learning formats — especially live webinars.

• Many providers face barriers such as limited time and financial constraints, and some struggle to complete courses due to workload or technical issues.

  

EDUCATION FINDINGS

These studies focus on trends in the Parkinson’s community and aim to provide information that can empower people in the PD community.

SEE ALL EDUCATION POSTERS

10. Processing a Challenging Hospital Experience: Providing a Tool for People with Parkinson’s to Document a Difficult Stay and Determine Next Steps

After a difficult hospital experience, many people are unsure of next steps. This poster details how the Parkinson’s Foundation, in collaboration with members of the PD community, developed a guide to help people with Parkinson’s and their families document and process their hospital experience. The form includes robust, PD-relevant questions about their hospital stay and provides suggestions for support and preventing future harm.

Main takeaways: 

• The Parkinson’s Foundation offers a questionnaire as a digital form on our website. 

• People with PD and care partners can submit their answers anonymously, share their experiences to help raise awareness, and/or request outreach and resources from the Foundation.  

• Forms can be downloaded, printed and saved for future appointments or hospital stay. 

• Use the form now

11. Empowering Hispanic/Latino Communities Through Research and Education: Expanding Access to Parkinson’s Genetic Studies Across Latin America

Hispanic/Latino communities have historically been underrepresented in Parkinson’s genetic research, limiting diversity and equity in scientific discovery. To address this gap, the Parkinson’s Foundation expanded its PD GENEration initiative in collaboration with LARGE-PD, bringing education, genetic counseling and research opportunities directly to communities across Latin America. Our objective was to increase access to PD genetic research among Hispanic/Latino populations by implementing culturally tailored education and recruitment events across Latin America. 

Main takeaways:

• Between 2024 and 2025, events in Mexico, Colombia, El Salvador, and the Dominican Republic reached 700 people and enrolled 240 new participants, increasing representation in PD GENEration. 
• These events integrated genetics education, counseling, and on-site enrollment, led by local clinicians and institutions to build trust and reduce barriers to participation. 
• The initiative strengthened long-term collaborations with local hospitals and clinicians, creating a sustainable and replicable model for community engagement. 
• Ultimately, this work demonstrates that combining culturally relevant education with direct access to research participation can reduce barriers, increase trust, and improve representation in PD genetic research. Expanding these community-driven efforts is essential to advancing more inclusive and equitable Parkinson’s research.

12. Joining Forces: A Collaborative Partnership between the Veterans Health Administration and the Parkinson’s Foundation

There are more than 110,000 veterans living with Parkinson’s in the U.S. Since 2020, the Parkinson’s Foundation and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) have partnered to improve the health, well-being and quality of life of veterans living with PD. Together, we create and provide veterans with PD and their loved ones resources. The partnership continues to enhance access to VA care and support veterans living with PD. Explore veterans’ resources.

Main takeaways:

• The Parkinson’s Foundation and VA have:

  • Engaged more than 20,000 veterans with PD and loved ones 

  • Hosted more than 20 webinars for veterans with more than 16,000 registrations 

  • Launched six co-created resources including Parkinson.org/Veterans webpages and Veterans Guide

  • Trained more than 150 VA professionals through the Parkinson’s Foundation Team Training program

13. Parkinson’s Exercise Guidelines: From Outdated to Updated

This project updated exercise guidelines for people with Parkinson’s to reflect the latest research and expert input. A team of specialists reviewed current evidence, identified gaps and revised recommendations to improve clarity, safety, and usability. The updated guidelines were reviewed by international experts and people with Parkinson’s, followed by a public comment period.

Main takeaway:

• Key updates to exercise guidelines emphasize safe exercise practices, referral to physical therapy and tailoring programs based on disease stage and individual needs.

14. HOPE PALS: The power of collaboration at the service of the Spanish-speaking PD community

HOPE PALS (Hispanic Organizational Partners Engaged in Parkinson’s Awareness and Leadership Solutions) is a cross-organizational coalition launched by the Davis Phinney Foundation to strengthen collaboration among Parkinson’s organizations. Coalition partners include the American Parkinson’s Disease Association, LARGE-PD, The Michael J. Fox Foundation, the Parkinson’s and more. Its goal is to improve the experience of Spanish-speaking people and families affected by Parkinson’s by maximizing shared resources, increasing awareness and advancing knowledge exchange across organizations.

Main takeaways:

• Through monthly meetings, organizations have expanded cross-promotion of resources and inspired new collaborative projects.

• Twice a year, the Davis Phinney Foundation Espacio Parkinson webinar invites coalition members to share materials and events, strengthening visibility and access for the Spanish-speaking PD community.

• HOPE PALS demonstrates the power of cross-organizational collaboration to amplify education and support for underserved PD communities. By leveraging digital connections and shared leadership, this coalition has elevated collective impact, enhanced community trust and expanded culturally relevant resources for the international Spanish-speaking Parkinson’s community.

Stay up to date with the latest Parkinson’s Foundation programs, research and happenings in our Parkinson’s Today blog. 

If you’re living with Parkinson’s disease (PD), the decisions being made every day at federal, state and local levels can directly shape your life. States can often move faster than Congress and the federal government to protect and improve the lives of people living with PD. They can experiment, share ideas and build on what neighboring states are doing.

State lawmakers are also a lot more accessible. They live in your communities. And because they represent fewer people, you're more likely to actually get a chance to sit down, share your Parkinson's story and make the case for legislation that can make a difference.

Here's how the Parkinson's Foundation is putting that to work on the state level this year to advance our policy priorities.

Helping to Prevent Parkinson's Disease by Banning Paraquat

Research has linked the widely used herbicide paraquat to an increased risk of developing Parkinson's. Paraquat has been banned in more than 70 countries, but it is still sold and used in the U.S. Even as we push for a nationwide ban, we are also pushing for state-level bans and restrictions in states that are willing to act on the evidence faster than the federal government.

At the start of 2026 state legislative sessions, the Parkinson’s Foundation was tracking bills to ban or restrict paraquat in 13 states. Vermont led the nation with passage of their legislation this year, while several other states are still considering their bills. The Foundation has testified at hearings, organized advocates to reach out to their representatives and showed up at press events.

• 

  In Pennsylvania, Parkinson’s Foundation Ambassador Leslie Zimmerman and Research Advocate Chris Kustanbauter met with state lawmakers to share their stories of living with PD and how they were likely exposed to paraquat years before their diagnoses. 

• In Minnesota, Parkinson’s Foundation Minnesota & Dakotas Chapter Board Member Lisa Erickson testified in support of the paraquat bill in the House and Senate, and spoke at a press conference alongside other advocates. 

• In New York, Foundation staff and volunteers participated in a paraquat rally on May 13. Research Advocate Mike Mooney spoke about his experience living with Parkinson's and working at a landscaping company in high school and college where he was exposed to chemicals.

Even in states where paraquat legislation has not yet passed, the Foundation made meaningful strides in educating lawmakers and the public about the links between paraquat and Parkinson's disease. That groundwork will drive continued advocacy in 2027 state legislative sessions. 

Funding Parkinson's Research at the State Level

One of the most direct ways states can make a difference is by investing in research. This year, the Parkinson's Foundation is working to secure state research funding in California, Florida, Pennsylvania and Minnesota, with Florida and Pennsylvania building on progress made last year.

In California, the Foundation is championing a bill that would authorize bonds to fund scientific research on Parkinson's disease and several other diseases. On April 13, Associate Vice President of Advocacy and State Policy Deborah Swerdlow joined around 50 Parkinson's advocates from across California, including volunteers and board members of the Parkinson's Foundation California Chapter, at the State Capitol for a Parkinson's Advocacy Day. 

Advocates met with lawmakers to push the bill forward, educate legislators on the dangers of the herbicide paraquat and discuss legislation to improve emergency preparedness and home- and community-based services. If the State Legislature passes this bill, it will appear on the November 2026 ballot for voters to approve the funding.

Improving Access to Care and Coverage

The Parkinson's Foundation is working on two fronts when it comes to care: 

1. Improving quality of life for people with Parkinson's and their care partners right now

2. Building toward a future where every person who receives a Parkinson's diagnosis can access timely, affordable, quality care

The Foundation has joined a nationwide coalition — including organizations focused on cancer, arthritis, ALS and Alzheimer's disease — to expand insurance coverage for biomarker testing at the state level. Biomarkers are biological signs that can be measured to help diagnose a disease, track how it's progressing and evaluate whether treatments are working. 

When insurance is required to cover biomarker testing, it becomes more affordable and more accessible. Thanks to this coalition's work, Mississippi and Tennessee enacted biomarker coverage in 2026 and the push continues in other states.

Looking ahead, the Parkinson's Foundation has developed a multiyear roadmap to transform PD care through policy reform and coordinated action. Parkinson's Care and Innovation: A Patient-Centered Agenda for Change outlines four priority solutions to guide policy action, as well as the federal National Parkinson's Project. It grew out of conversations with care leaders, experts, people living with Parkinson's and innovators because people with Parkinson's are at the center of everything we do. Learn more about the roadmap. 

Get Involved

What happens at the state level is connected to everything. The research funding secured this year could become a new treatment option in five years. A paraquat ban passed now could mean fewer diagnoses in your community. Insurance coverage expanded today helps a person with Parkinson's afford their care tomorrow.

Want to get involved? Visit our Advocacy Center to join our Advocacy Network and contact your representatives. You can also directly reach our policy team at Policy@Parkinson.org.

Me acuerdo que, a la edad de 10 años, miré los primeros temblores en mi mano derecha y mi marcha al caminar se sentía diferente. También quería entender qué le estaba pasando a mi cuerpo. 

Me diagnosticaron en el 2002, a la temprana edad de 25 años. Ahorita tengo 48. Así es que tengo 23 años luchando contra la Enfermedad de Parkinson (EP).

Llevo viviendo con Parkinson muchos años, pero nunca he dejado de buscar respuestas.

Desde mi diagnóstico, he querido saber más y tener más información acerca del Parkinson. Este soy yo. Encontré la Parkinson’s Foundation porque tiene mucha información y muchos recursos. Desde dar soluciones hasta tener mucha información y siempre disponible en Parkinson.org. 

Me enteré en la TV de que la Fundación estaba haciendo un estudio genético. Así encontramos PD GENEration: impulsado por la Parkinson’s Foundation en línea y me inscribí para participar. Cuando descubrí que la Fundación estaba realizando este estudio, supe que quería participar. Me sentí motivado a participar sólo porque quería aprender más acerca de mi Parkinson. Participar era una oportunidad de entender mejor mi propia historia.

Mi experiencia con PD GENEration fue muy, muy fácil. nada de problemas. Llené la información de mi nombre y formulario en línea y después, me mandaron el kit a la semana.

Después de recibir mis resultados, la sesión de consejería genética me pareció muy interesante y me dio validez. Siempre pensé que la razón de que yo tuviera la enfermedad de Parkinson era ambiental, porque mis papás fueron agricultores en los años 1970s. Siempre pensé que habíamos estado expuestos a químicos relacionados con la EP. 

Los resultados me sorprendieron. Cuando descubrí que tenía variantes genéticas de la EP, me sorprendí. Nunca imaginé que tenía el gen desde niño. 

Tener respuestas reales ha cambiado mi forma de ver la enfermedad de Parkinson. PD GENEration me abrió una puerta al conocimiento que no tuve antes.

La sorpresa fue que de los siete principales genes relacionados con la EP para los que me testaron, salí positivo en dos. Entonces, básicamente, me explicó el genetista que tengo dos genes del Parkinson y eso me dejó pensando, “¡Wow!”

Me siento bien de saber más información sobre mi Parkinson. Ahora tengo un documento válido que demuestra que yo cargo el gen del Parkinson.

Para quien viva con Parkinson, les recomiendo mucho que participen en PD GENEration. ¿Por qué no saber más acerca de uno mismo? ¿Acerca de su Parkinson? 

Creo que este estudio es especialmente valioso para la comunidad de la EP porque en nuestra comunidad hispana, la investigación del Parkinson no siempre nos alcanza ni refleja. Muy a menudo, un diagnóstico es donde termina el recorrido de la EP para muchos. Un doctor te dice que es Parkinson y ya no hacemos nada más. 

Como hispanos, necesitamos participar en estudios como este. Nuestra comunidad merece tener acceso a la información y a oportunidades como PD GENEration. participar en las investigaciones es alzar la voz de los hispanos en la investigación.

PD GENEration fue una buena experiencia para mí. Recibí buenas noticias: las respuestas a las preguntas que quería saber acerca de mi Parkinson. 

Participar en este estudio tuvo un impacto en mi familia. Tengo dos hijas y ahora estoy pensando en su futuro. Participar no fue sólo para mí; fue para mi familia. Siento que participe en las investigaciones así hoy abre las puertas a las generaciones futuras. 

La investigación es esperanza.

Lea la historia de Ian en inglés

Los testimonios proporcionados por los participantes del estudio reflejan experiencias personales y no necesariamente representan las opiniones del patrocinador del estudio. No sustituyen el consejo médico, y los resultados del estudio pueden variar según las circunstancias individuales. Consulte siempre con su proveedor de atención médica antes de tomar cualquier decisión relacionada con su salud.

Al participar en PD GENEration, los participantes pueden descubrir nuevos conocimientos acerca de su genética, entender los riesgos de su familia y ayudar a beneficiar a las futuras generaciones. Aprenda más e inscríbase hoy.

In Parkinson’s disease (PD), a protein called alpha-synuclein misfolds and clumps together inside brain cells. These clumps are thought to damage neurons over time and can spread from cell to cell, driving the disease forward. Currently, treatments for PD only manage symptoms — none can slow or stop this underlying process.

Scientists are working hard to find disease-modifying therapies for Parkinson’s. A new study published in Science Translational Medicine may offer a path forward. Researchers at the University of Denver and NYU Abu Dhabi — co-led by Sunil Kumar, PhD, a Parkinson's Foundation Stanley Fahn Junior Faculty Awardee — have developed a special molecule called SK-129 that shows promise in blocking alpha-synuclein from clumping and spreading in the brain. The Parkinson’s Foundation directly funded this work.

Think of alpha-synuclein clumping like a chain reaction: one misfolded protein causes the next one to misfold, and so on, eventually building up harmful deposits. SK-129 is designed to interrupt that chain reaction before it gets started.

Because the SK-129 molecule interacts with important regions of alpha-synuclein, it can latch onto the misfolded protein and prevent it from recruiting others into clumps. Importantly, it targets the toxic, clumped forms of the protein rather than the healthy form, which has normal functions in the brain.

“Our study is unique in that it targets the most toxic forms of α-synuclein — oligomers — offering a new way to significantly slow disease symptoms. This approach creates hope for disease-modifying therapies not only for Parkinson’s, but also for related disorders like Lewy body dementia. That gives us real hope that disease-modifying therapies for Parkinson’s are within reach.”

- Dr. Kumar, study lead and Parkinson’s Foundation research grantee

Key advantages of SK-129 are its size and shape. Other strategies to block alpha-synuclein clumping, such as antibodies, are large molecules that struggle to cross the blood-brain barrier (the protective layer between the bloodstream and the brain). SK-129 is small and compact enough to cross this barrier. Additionally, once in the brain, the molecule was able to stay there for multiple days, which is essential for sustained treatment.

Study Results

The research team tested SK-129 across a remarkably wide range of models — from human cells and patient-derived tissue to worm and mouse models of PD.

In worm models of PD, untreated worms lost most of their dopamine-producing neurons over time. Worms treated preventatively with SK-129 retained nearly all of them, along with restored movement and behavior. Critically, SK-129 may be more than a preventive measure. When given after disease had already set in — after about 30% of dopamine neurons had already been lost — it still rescued a significant number of remaining neurons. This is important because people with Parkinson’s are typically diagnosed after symptoms have already appeared.

In a mouse model of PD, untreated mice survived an average of about 175 days, with fewer than 20% surviving to 270 days. Those that survived showed severe movement problems. In contrast, mice treated with SK-129 had 100% survival to 270 days and showed no signs of movement impairment. Brain tissue from treated mice showed no harmful protein deposits or signs of brain inflammation.

To test the molecule in human samples, the researchers tested SK-129 using exosomes — tiny cellular packages — isolated from the blood of people with Parkinson’s. These exosomes carried misfolded alpha-synuclein that could trigger clumping in cells grown in a petri dish. Adding SK-129 blocked this process.

Another interesting finding was that SK-129 also blocked alpha-synuclein from clumping together with tau, a protein linked to Alzheimer’s disease. Tau is increasingly recognized as being important in Parkinson’s too; about half of people with PD also have tau-related brain changes, which can worsen both movement and cognitive symptoms. In the mouse model, treated mice showed no evidence of combined alpha-synuclein and tau deposits, while untreated mice did. In short, while SK-129 is designed to target harmful alpha-synuclein deposits, it also prevented alpha-synuclein from clumping with tau as well.

Highlights

• Researchers developed a molecule, called SK-129, that can make it to the brain and attach to toxic forms of the protein associated with Parkinson’s called alpha-synuclein.

• SK-129 latches onto the hallmark PD protein and prevents it from launching a clumping chain reaction.

• In multiple models of PD (including cells, worms, mice and human-derived tissue), treatment with SK-129 prevented alpha-synuclein clumping and rescued signs of neurodegeneration.

• SK-129 shows promising therapeutic properties, including the ability to effectively reach the brain, preferentially bind to toxic forms of alpha-synuclein, and remain in brain tissue for a prolonged period of time.

What Does This Mean?

While early, SK-129 has the potential to be a breakthrough Parkinson’s treatment. This study represents an important step toward a long-sought goal: a disease-modifying treatment that addresses the underlying cause of Parkinson’s disease instead of only symptoms.

This research supports a promising strategy at the forefront of Parkinson’s research: targeting the clumping and spread of alpha-synuclein, a suspected driver of PD progression. Earlier approaches have struggled because they were not specific enough, couldn’t enter the brain or didn’t last long enough in the brain to be effective.

Importantly, SK-129’s unique features have overcome many of these challenges, making it a promising potential therapy. Despite this progress, SK-129 still needs thorough safety testing and studies in more complex models before clinical trials can begin, so it will likely be years before it is available. This is why funding a diverse range of Parkinson’s research studies is so important.

What Do These Findings Mean for People with Parkinson’s Right Now?

SK-129 is not yet a treatment available to people. It is still in the preclinical stage, with next steps already underway.

“Next, we’ll move SK-129 toward clinical development by testing its safety and dosing,” said Dr. Kumar. “A key priority is to establish a clear link between dose, effectively targeting the harmful alpha-synuclein and producing real benefits in animal models. At the same time, we are optimizing related molecules to improve strength, access to the brain and stability, to help identify the best candidate for future clinical trials.” 

For people with Parkinson’s, continue current care — medications, exercise, therapy) — and consider clinical trials if interested. While SK-129 is likely years away from human testing, the development of molecules like this represents meaningful progress and demonstrates the importance of supporting preclinical Parkinson’s research.

Learn More

The Parkinson’s Foundation believes in empowering the Parkinson’s community through education. Learn more about PD treatments and ongoing research through our resources below, or by calling our free Helpline at 1-800-4PD-INFO (1-800-473-4636) for answers to your Parkinson’s questions.

• Parkinson’s Treatment

• Parkinson's Medications 101

• Join A Study

Parkinson’s disease (PD) research is advancing rapidly, with breakthroughs on the horizon that could transform treatment and offer hope to millions.

Three key research areas are among the most active and promising: alpha-synuclein aggregation, mitochondrial dysfunction and neuroinflammation. Learn what these terms mean, where the science is headed and how advances in these areas may lead to new treatments and disease-modifying therapies.

This article is based on a Parkinson’s Foundation Expert Briefing exploring advances in Parkinson’s research hosted by Laurie Sanders, PhD, Associate Professor, Neurology and Pathology, Movement Disorders and Translational Brain Sciences divisions, at Duke University School of Medicine, a Parkinson's Foundation Center of Excellence.

Urgency is Driving Research

The pressing need to crack the code behind the causes of Parkinson’s has never been greater. Though there are a wide variety of treatments to manage PD symptoms, there is no cure. More than 11 million people worldwide are living with Parkinson’s, including more than 1 million in the U.S.

PD cases are expected to exceed 25 million globally by 2050. The economic impact is staggering: Parkinson's cost the U.S. $82.2 billion in 2024. More than $23 billion went toward direct medical costs, while nearly $60 billion reflects indirect costs, including lost income and burdens on care partners.

The determination to solve the Parkinson’s mystery is possibly best reflected in the number of current studies in the research pipeline. The National Institutes of Health’s (NIH) ClinicalTrials.gov shows more than 200 Parkinson’s-related clinical trials either actively recruiting or about to recruit. In addition, foundational research that advances our overall understanding of Parkinson’s biology continues to take place, especially in the following areas.

3 Key Parkinson’s Research Areas Right Now

Parkinson’s is complex, as scientists believe a combination of environmental and genetic factors are the cause of Parkinson's. Research requires attacking the problem from multiple angles. Studies suggest the development and progression of Parkinson’s involves interactions among three key biological areas:

1. Protein Aggregation: Alpha-synuclein

Parkinson’s involves the loss of dopamine-producing neurons and a buildup of alpha-synuclein, a normally useful protein found in the brain that helps brain cells communicate. There is very strong genetic evidence linking alpha-synuclein to Parkinson’s disease via the SNCA gene, which was the first PD-associated gene to be identified.

Alpha-synuclein becomes problematic when it misfolds, gathering into clumps called Lewy bodies that can spread between brain cells. Many PD treatments target and remove these alpha-synuclein clumps. However, while Lewy bodies are a hallmark of Parkinson’s, there is still some controversy over whether they are part of the Parkinson’s problem or act as a protective factor.

2. Mitochondrial Dysfunction

Mitochondria are energy powerhouses that are critically important to good health. They malfunction in Parkinson’s, impacting cellular energy and contributing to cell death. Neurons — brain cells that send electrical and chemical communications — are especially vulnerable to mitochondrial dysfunction.

Certain gene mutations can impact mitochondrial function, as can environmental toxins like pesticides (such as paraquat).

Genetic risk factors, including PINK1 and PRKN that are specifically related to mitochondria, can also influence PD development and severity.

3. Brain Inflammation

When combined with the other two factors, studies suggest that brain inflammation (the brain’s protective response to harm, which may become overstimulated in Parkinson’s) can make those problems worse. In addition, inflammation can weaken the blood-brain barrier that may allow immune cells from the blood to enter the brain, which can accelerate neurodegeneration.

Advances Accelerating Parkinson’s Research

Once considered solely a movement disorder, we now know Parkinson’s is a multisystem disease that can affect the whole body — including urinary problems, gut issues and changes to thinking, sleep and mood.

Patient engagement is essential for PD research progress. Major influences that deepen our understanding of PD risk include studies with global reach like PD GENEration: Powered by the Parkinson’s Foundation, which is providing insights as to how Parkinson’s is tied to genetics through providing genetic testing and counseling to people with a confirmed PD diagnosis. Importantly, the biological discoveries made about Parkinson’s via genetic testing may also apply to Parkinson’s cases that do not have a known genetic link.

New tools are being developed that hold the possibility to detect Parkinson’s earlier, better understand its progression and help track the effectiveness of PD therapies. These tools include:

• Brain imaging to help researchers visualize the spread of Parkinson’s, identify specific areas of brain pathology and increase diagnosis accuracy including advances in developing positron emission tomography (PET) ligands, high-resolution MRI and diffusion imaging.

• Ultrasensitive lab tests to measure new Parkinson’s biomarkers from spinal fluid and other fluids such as blood. These tests include:

  • alpha-synuclein seeding assays (SAAs) to detect tiny amounts of misfolded alpha-synuclein.

  • tests that can identify neurodegeneration, such as for the protein neurofilament light, which has been linked to PD, and other markers of inflammation.

  • Tests for mitochondrial DNA damage, such as MitoDNADX, a recent blood test developed by Duke University researchers for use as a potential biomarker in PD.

• Improved disease models, including:

  • induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), developed by recoding cells from people with PD to become dopamine neurons, allowing for the study of PD-related cell dysfunction in patient tissue. 

  • organoids, which are miniature brains that allow scientists to study Parkinson’s mechanisms and test possible therapies.

  • refined animal models, that are genetically engineered to better model Parkinson’s symptoms.

Research Breakthroughs and Targets

Scientists are investigating ways to slow or halt Parkinson’s, identify people for participation in relevant PD trials and deliver targeted treatments.

Nearly 100 forms of alpha-synuclein have been identified, with research to determine which are most toxic. As scientists dig deeper into PD progression, they have also discovered alpha-synuclein pathology along the GI tract of people with PD.

Parkinson’s and GI research is expanding, including through the Gut-Brain Communication in Parkinson’s Disease Consortium, a joint effort between the NIH and the Duke Clinical Research Institute.

Many people with Parkinson’s also experience the buildup of other proteins such as Beta-amyloid plaques and Tau tangles, key hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease. One promising study under way is exploring whether oral therapy buntanetap is safe for long-term use in people with PD. Buntanetap aims to reduce other toxic proteins. Investigational Parkinson’s treatments also include immunotherapies that use antibodies to target harmful protein clumps and approaches that help cells manage or remove misfolded proteins.

Mutations in the GBA1 gene, a common genetic risk factor for Parkinson’s, reduce the activity of the glucocerebrosidase enzyme, contributing to alpha-synuclein buildup. New treatments are being developed to boost glucocerebrosidase activity to help cells more effectively remove harmful buildup. A variety of therapies are also in the research pipeline to rescue mitochondrial function.

The Way Forward

Parkinson’s research is fundamental for progress toward new disease-modifying therapies that can slow or stop disease progression. By improving our understanding of the ways in which alpha-synuclein, mitochondrial dysfunction and inflammation interact, we get closer to having personalized, precision-medicine treatments for PD. When we combine this knowledge with patient participation in research, breakthroughs in technology and new biomarker discoveries, we continue to advance closer to a cure for Parkinson’s.

How to get involved:

• Visit Join A Study to explore current clinical trials.

• Become a Research Advocate to ensure more efficient, effective Parkinson’s research.

• Learn how PD Trial Navigator is connecting PD GENEration participants to clinical trials that are relevant to them.

Tracking Parkinson’s disease (PD) progression is challenging, and doctors currently rely on how a person’s symptoms change over time. This method is difficult because symptoms vary from person to person and can fluctuate, making it hard to evaluate if treatments are helping.

For other brain diseases like Alzheimer’s, scientists have developed small molecules that can attach to disease-related protein clumps and make them visible on brain scans such as PET (positron emission tomography). These imaging tools allow researchers and clinicians to see where harmful proteins are building up in the brain, providing a clearer way to track disease progression and test therapies. In short, these imaging tools can act as a biomarker for the disease.

Sarah Shahmoradian, PhD, recipient of a Parkinson’s Foundation Impact Award, is exploring whether a similar biomarker tag could work for Parkinson’s. Working with collaborators at Massachusetts General Hospital, a Parkinson’s Foundation Center of Excellence, Dr. Shahmoradian is studying a specially designed small molecule that appears to bind to toxic forms of the protein connected to Parkinson’s (called alpha-synuclein). 

“Currently, we do not have a PET tracer that reliably marks clusters of the protein alpha-synuclein when it goes bad, so we can’t tell when these clusters are starting to grow or when they are starting to spread in the brain,” said Dr. Shahmoradian.

Having a Parkinson’s-specific PET tracer to track the alpha-synuclein protein would help PD doctors and care teams:

• Detect Parkinson’s earlier

• Monitor how PD spreads over time

• Evaluate if experimental therapeutics are reducing the clustering and accumulation over time

• Distinguish Parkinson’s from other conditions with overlapping symptoms

From her lab at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, Dr. Shahmoradian will use high-resolution imaging methods — developed through her earlier research, which was supported by a Parkinson’s Foundation Stanley Fahn Junior Faculty Award in 2022 — to see precisely how this new molecule attaches to alpha-synuclein. Understanding this interaction at the molecular level will help scientists fine-tune the tracer for future clinical imaging.

The next step is to adapt the molecule so it glows under the microscope. By applying it to neurons grown in the lab that model Parkinson’s disease, or to slices of PD brain tissue, Dr. Shahmoradian and her team hope to track where alpha-synuclein clumps appear and how they move inside cells.

If successful, this work will demonstrate that the molecule can serve as a powerful diagnostic and research tool for Parkinson’s.

“There is real momentum in Parkinson’s disease research right now. We understand more about the problematic protein alpha-synuclein now than we did a decade ago. Cell models are becoming increasingly sophisticated and there are newer imaging agents and disease-modifying therapies on the horizon.” - Dr. Shahmoradian

Dr. Shahmoradian believes her work brings hope to the Parkinson’s community because through it, researchers like herself can look at problematic alpha-synuclein clumps at extremely high resolution to figure out exactly where the protein goes wrong.

She is grateful for the community she has found through the Parkinson’s Foundation, and the connections she has made with other researchers who are also focused on finding a cure for Parkinson’s disease.

“This research would not be possible without the Foundation’s support, and the donors who made these grants a reality. Your investment is not abstract. You are helping support experiments right now, in real time, that help diagnose and treat Parkinson’s disease. You are accelerating and empowering scientists like myself toward the shared common cause of curing Parkinson’s disease,” said Dr. Shahmoradian.

Meet more Parkinson’s researchers! Explore our My PD Stories featuring PD researchers.