"It's not like with diabetes," said Beck, "where you can just measure insulin levels." Even diagnosing Parkinson's requires assessing numerous signs and symptoms, as the disorder lacks a single definitive diagnostic measure. There are approximately two dozen genes currently linked to Parkinson's, although their exact contributions to the disorder's development and progression remain under debate. "Yet, Medicare won't consider genetic counselors as Medicare providers." "Ninety percent of our population is covered by Medicare," said James Beck, one of the study investigators and CSO of the Parkinson's Foundation. Genetic counseling is a key component of the study, as Parkinson's remains incompletely understood, leading to significant concerns among those living with it regarding its potential course and the possibility of passing it on to future generations.ĭespite this, genetic counseling is often not covered by public insurance plans, something that the Parkinson's Foundation hopes to eventually change. The study aims to eventually recruit 15,000 people, of which it has currently recruited some 23 percent. PD GENEration is a nationwide initiative to evaluate how offering genetic testing and counseling to people with Parkinson's affects their clinical care and enrollment in clinical trials. The patient advocacy and research organization expanded its study to 23 sites out of a target of 50, partnered with Morehouse School of Medicine to reach minority communities in the Atlanta area, and formed a Parkinson's Disease Gene Curation Expert Panel (GCEP) to help curate Parkinson's-related genes and their variants. NEW YORK – The Parkinson's Foundation recently expanded its PD GENEration genetic testing and counseling initiative to include more sites and greater outreach to traditionally underserved communities. Advances in Clinical Genomics Profiling.
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