Comments on: Google Founder Tries to Crack Parkinson’s Genetic Code With Crowdsourcing

By: Jonathan

Jonathan — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 12:28:54 +0000

Hi all
I think the comment that patients should be ideally interviewed by doctors is “more of the restrictive thinking that hampers efforts like Brin’s, many doctors (partially due to the internet) know less about PD than the patients.

Secondly I had shakey handwriting which went on for 25 years until slow right hand and heavy right hand and unexplained anxiety fear of bad weather especially thunderstorms etc when sailing,,,,— etc etc then “diagnosed” now on stalevo + sinamet + symmetril quite succesful with minimum quantities (can still play the organ) an development is (touch wood ) slow if at all leading me to think that slow progress “unrecognised) may fortel slow progress recognised. Also —for what it’s worth—–I used to notoceably walk on my toes as a child

Jonathan

By: Dakk

Dakk — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 14:42:35 +0000

I hope this helps develop a cure.
But, how could people bad-mouth him for using his wife’s company after he found out he’s susceptible? It’s common sense. I invested in my brother’s remodeling company and I hire him, at regular rates, when I need some work done around my house. Its not the same thing but it is the same type of circumstance. You go to the people you trust the most.

By: James Lyons-Weiler

James Lyons-Weiler — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 13:51:59 +0000

Would those critical of this important initiative would prefer him to stay silent, do nothing, and let those who suffer from Parkinson’s continue to suffer needlessly?

I mean, what possibly could they have to gain by criticizing him?

The cruelty of some people in the name of competition is astonishing.

By the way, it’s his money.

I hope they discover ways to mediate the suffering of Parkison’s patients. The risk genes might only indicate correlative markers for risk; a study of the mechanisms of progression of the disease is also needed.

Best of luck, Brin.

jlw
http://ipshareguy.vox.com/

By: Martha Heinz

Martha Heinz — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 13:30:59 +0000

I am 55 years old and have been diagnosed with Parkinson’s since 2005 but my illness does not fit the usual pattern. I still work full time. Progression is slow, and I am not a L-Dopa drug regime, just anti-depressant patch and a low dose of clonazapam for the tremor. My biggest obstacle has been my left leg and foot will stiffen and I have developed a limp which I am working on in Physical therapy. I have had some falls due to this lack of coordinated gait rather than balance which scores great. My question is if Parkinson’s is a disease created my modern pesticides or contaminants invading the brain barrier, does it still require a predisposition to Parkinson’s to develop the disease? When I went to a early onset support group a few years ago, of the 6 women present, five grew up on farms (exposure to pesticides) and only one had a parent or relative with Parkinson’s. I am the youngest of a family of six siblings and I am the only one showing symptoms. Which I find odd as the other five experienced as much or more exposure to pesticides as I did. There is no one relative that has had this illness. Can we test for chemicals in the body that may create Parkinson’s Disease or does this disease always start with from a genetic base?

By: Mike Williamson

Mike Williamson — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 22:52:25 +0000

This is a great idea! It is a classic example of how new thinking and approaches can disrupt old staid thinking. Recall how one man in Australia changes the entire world around peptic ulcers, and you’ll see the potential of Brin’s idea. Go Brin Go!