The Parkinson's Web to Open Today!

[CocoSolo@xxxxxxx]

For Immediate Release

Contact: Ken Bernstein

Announcing the Opening of The Parkinson's Web on the Internet

BOSTON, MA - Dr. Anne Young, M. D., Ph.D., Chief of the Department of
Neurology at the Massachusetts General Hospital, announced the opening of a
Parkinson's Disease information resource directory on the World Wide Web.
Individuals with a computer, Internet access and web browser software will
now be able to learn about new developments in Parkinson's research, look up
medical terms in a glossary, get a listing of Parkinson's organizations and
resources in the United States and countries around the world. These are but
a few of the categories of information available on The Parkinson's Web. The
Universal Resource Locator is:
 .

Ken Bernstein, President of the Young Parkinson's Support Network -
Massachusetts is The Parkinson's Web Project Coordinator. Bernstein said the
creation of the Parkinson's information resource was a collaborative effort
involving neurologists, researchers and Parkinson's patients and activists in
the United States, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, the United Kingdom and The
Netherlands.

The goal, according to Bernstein, is to "use the Internet's capability to
link people around the world, use the Internet's power to share information
and create a worldwide Parkinson's community." Beyond sharing information on
the Internet, project contributors hope that this web site can help speed the
search for the cause of Parkinson's and the development of ever more
effective treatment strategies. The web site is in its infancy and over time
more information will become available. Volunteers are still needed for this
work. They should contact Ken Bernstein via e-mail: cocosolo@xxxxxxxxxxxx

Parkinson's disease is a baffling and complex of the neurological disorders.
 Its cause remains a mystery but research in this area is active, with new
and intriguing findings constantly being reported. The disease is both
chronic and progressive. It is not contagious nor is it usually inherited.

Parkinson's belongs to a group of conditions called Motor System Disorders.
The four primary symptoms are tremor or trembling in hands, arms, legs, jaw,
and face; rigidity or stiffness of the limbs and trunk; bradykinesia or
slowness of movement; and postural instability or impaired balance and
coordination. As these symptoms become more pronounced, patients may have
difficulty walking, talking, or completing other simple tasks.

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March 24, 1995