Chris Van Hollen: “today I wish to discuss the impact of Parkinson's disease in the U.S. and across the world. While significant progress…”

“today I wish to discuss the impact of Parkinson's disease in the U.S. and across the world. While significant progress has been made in managing certain symptoms and identifying potential risk factors, we still lack a clear understanding of the underlying causes of Parkinson's disease. To that end, I continue to support the strongest funding possible for biomedical research under the National Institutes of Health and its Brain Research through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies--BRAIN-- Initiative, as well as the Parkinson's Research Program at the Department of Defense. These investments are necessary to sustain efforts by our Nation's scientists at the helm of innovative research and discovery, with the hope and resolve that we will one day find a cure. I would like to highlight a recent study entitled ``The Economic Burden of Parkinson's Disease,'' which was brought to my attention in a meeting with constituents led by Dan Lewis, a longtime advocate for Parkinson's research. Commissioned by the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research, this study places the annual economic impact of Parkinson's at $52 billion in 2017, nearly double the previous estimates. Approximately half of that total reflects the medical costs of Parkinson's patients, primarily paid by Medicare. The other half reflects the real indirect costs shouldered by patients with Parkinson's, their caregivers, and our society.…”