According to the
Parkinson's Foundation, nearly 90,000 people are diagnosed with the disease every year in the United States. I've had friends and parents of friends succumb to Parkinson's, and know several others who are currently fighting. When I saw a Facebook ad looking for volunteers to participate in a smell test sponsored by The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research it seemed like an easy way to do my part to help.
The test is officially called the
Parkinson's Progression Markers Initiative (PPMI). It tracks people with and without Parkinson's over time to learn more about the disease. Smell loss is linked to a higher risk of Parkinson's, but not everyone with smell loss will develop the disease.
It only took a few minutes to create an account, read and accept a consent form, and add some general information. Next I filled out a short screening questionnaire. When I finished, I found out the smell test would be mailed to my house. After I complete the test I will upload the information to a website. At that point I'll learn what the next step will be.
Because the test is for research they won't tell me how I did, but that's not why I'm participating. I'll just be happy if my data can help.
Five years ago today: I Wish It Could Be This Easy
That's cool that you're helping! Hopefully though, if they find someone with many markers, they reach out to them.
ReplyDeleteI suspect more information will be forthcoming.
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DeleteInteresting link between loss of smell and the risk of Parkinson's. Good for you for participating in the research!
ReplyDeleteIn my mind the two don't seem to be particularly related, but what do I know?
DeleteVery cool-Christine cmlk79.blogspot.com
ReplyDeleteOne of my blogging friends has Parkinson’s. She’s been posting some good information
ReplyDeleteMy neighbor can't smell, and neither can her adult son. I just ran into someone else who claims to have almost no sense of smell.
ReplyDeleteI've never had the greatest sense of smell, but at least it hasn't gotten worse as I age.
DeleteMy test arrived several months ago. Maybe I should put it on my things to do list.
ReplyDeleteProbably :-)
DeleteI'm signed in. I don't know why my comment showed up as anon!
ReplyDeleteMike
Very interesting.
ReplyDeletewww.rsrue.blogspot.com
Good for you. These research projects help all of us. I've been in a women teachers/cancer project for over 30 years.
ReplyDeleteTerry has been in a stroke project for about 20 years. He actually gets an occasional monetary token. I get nothing but lots of research data I can read if I so wish. Turns out, the research starts out to find one thing and then because of all the data that is collected, can go on to do far more studies and learn so much more than the original idea.
Good for both you and Terry!
DeleteWhat a wonderful thing to do for your fellow humans!
ReplyDeleteVery interesting information. My friend's husband was just diagnosed last year.
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