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On Thursday, January 25th, CAP’s Glastonbury Support group hosted Dr. David Matuskey, M.D and Mark F. Dias from Yale University School of Medicine to speak about their novel, cutting-edge research regarding their study of identifying a biomarker for Parkinson’s.

A biomarker is a measurable indicator of the severity or presence of some disease state. There is a pressing need for biomarkers to diagnose PD, assess disease severity, and prognosticate course. For those interested in the science, the research studies the synaptic density in multiple subject groups using PET Imaging of SV2A Receptors.

Two CAP Board Members, Michelle Hespeler and Lisa Dolishny, were the first participants to partake in the trial in May 2017.  Dr. Matuskey and Mr. Dias could not have been more enthusiastic about the initial results, which showed great promise. Dr. Matuskey stressed that their research is not a cure, but it can be used to speed up the discovery process. In this case, the biomarker can be used to see how well the body responds to the Parkinson’s treatments, thus potentially speeding up research.

Personally, I was excited about the study being conducted at Yale allowing the Connecticut Parkinson’s community to play such an active role in this study. To continue their research, Dr. Matuskey and Mr. Dias are looking for PWP’s to participate in next research phase, requiring up to twenty-five new participants.

This particular study does require several visits to Yale. Michelle Hespeler shared her thoughts on the trial by stating, “I’ve participated in several clinical trials and each one has given me a great sense of accomplishment, knowing that I have helped in my small way”. Many PWP’s who participate in clinical trials find that it gives them a sense of control over the disease.

Progress in treating Parkinson’s depends on clinical trials, and the success of those trials depends on PWP’s who volunteer to enroll in a trial. The research community is making progress towards new treatments, but not nearly at the rate we all would like. I encourage you to consider participating in this or other trials. You truly can make a difference. CAP is currently involved in several other trials at Yale, laying the foundation for a great partnership.

CAP is here to answer any questions you might have or to provide transportation to the trial if you need assistance.  

We are here to serve you. If we can help you in any way, please give us a call at 860.266.6040.

Warm Regards,

 

 

Karl C. Hespeler
Chairman 
860-490-0251
Karl@Parkinsonsct.org

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