introduction

[Karen Zimmer <zimmers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi there, my name is Karen and I live in Connecticut, US.  My husband was 
diagnosed with PD about 2 years ago.  Nobody else in his family that we know of 
has this disease, but he does carry the LRRK2 mutation G2019S, and we have been 
involved in several studies because of that, including research at the 
Institute of Neurodegenerative Disorders in New Haven, CT, which does the only 
SPECT scan for Parkinson's in the US.  Also someone from the Parkinson's 
Institute in California came to study some of the family and take skin cells to 
make ips stem cells.  Last week we went to New York for the LRRK2 study at Beth 
Israel, where he and I both had ultrasound of our heads by a German expert on 
detecting signs of PD through ultrasound.  He said my husband has iron 
accumulation in his brain stem, a sign of PD, he said.  So we are very 
interested in doing whatever we can to help with finding treatments and 
preventive strategies.  He initially discovered the LRRK2 mutation through 
parti!
 cipation in 23andme.  I am so impressed with Michael J. Fox and his foundation 
and grateful for the innovation and competence in their funding efforts.  A 
friend from the 23andme community recommended this site, and after a few days 
of reading your comments, I am impressed.  My husband has tremor of his right 
arm.  He has taken Azilect 1 mg for two years and also recently started taking 
1200 mg of Vitaline Co Q 10.  He also takes fish oil and resveratrol (what's in 
red wine) just because it seemed like maybe a good idea.  I appreciate the 
community and look forward to reading the digest every day, along with google 
searches about LRRK2, PD, and alpha synuclein.  

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