Paul Ruby Foundation for Parkinson's Research

Initially it's difficult to find something positive about being diagnosed with a degenerative disease with no cure. However, three years after finding out I have Parkinson's disease I understand how fortunate I am compared to many others and that my appreciation for family and friends has intensified. I also now realize that with the help of my friends and in partnership with the Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders Center of Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine and Northwestern Memorial Hospital for the shared vision of increasing clinical research to extend the knowledge and treatment of Parkinson's disease that we can make a difference in the search for a cure.

The mission of the Paul Ruby Foundation for Parkinson's Research is to increase awareness about the disease and to raise money for Parkinson's research in partnership with the Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders Center of Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine and Northwestern Memorial Hospital for the shared vision of increasing clinical research to extend the knowledge and treatment of Parkinson's disease. - Paul Ruby

What is Parkinson's?

Parkinson's disease is a chronic, progressive disorder of the central nervous system that belongs to a group of conditions called motor system disorders. Parkinson's is the direct result of the loss of cells in a section of the brain called the substantia nigra. Those cells produce dopamine, a chemical messenger responsible for transmitting signals within the brain. Loss of dopamine causes critical nerve cells in the brain, or neurons, to fire out of control, leaving patients unable to direct or control their movement in a normal manner.

Parkinson's disease has been known since ancient times. An English doctor, James Parkinson, first described it extensively in 1817; the thoroughness of his analysis is such that researchers and clinicians are still urged to read his original notes on the condition.

What are the symptoms?

Symptoms of Parkinson's, which often appear gradually yet with increasing severity, may include tremors or trembling; difficulty maintaining balance and gait; rigidity or stiffness of the limbs and trunk; and general slowness of movement (also called bradykinesia). Patients may also eventually have difficulty walking, talking, or completing other simple tasks. Because Parkinson's has a wide range of early symptoms that are similar to other neurological conditions, diagnosis is often difficult unless the clinician has experience in the field.

The course of Parkinson's varies substantially. Some patients have relatively few troublesome symptoms for many years, while others have especially severe cases that leave them with little or no mobility in just a few years.