Dr Michele Hu, cohort study lead said: “One of the earliest phases of Parkinson’s, what we call the prodromal phase, occurs when individuals enact their dreams, often shouting out, or thrashing around in their sleep. This condition is called REM sleep behaviour disorder, and is much more common in males than females (8:1 ratio). We need more healthy male control volunteers, so we can compare their results with those of males affected by this sleep disorder. This will help us understand how early Parkinson’s develops.”
Last month, Parkinson’s UK’s Director of Research Dr Arthur Roach, took part in the study and said;
“It is a great opportunity for people to get involved with a research study to help us understand Parkinson’s better. It’s essential that people without the condition take part so that the research team can look for subtle differences that may be the key to diagnosing Parkinson’s earlier.
“I found taking part really interesting and enjoyable as it involves testing things like sense of smell and doing mental challenges, and it’s exciting to feel like you’re part of a study which could bring us closer to a cure.”
You may be eligible to take part in the study if:
- you are male, ideally aged between 50 and 75
- are based in the Oxfordshire area
- have no family history of Parkinson's
- are English speaking with no sleep or memory issues
If you are interested in learning more please complete this form and return to us via email (parkinsons.discovery@nhs.net) or through the post.
You can also contact:
Jane Rumbold, Senior Research Administrator at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford.
Tel: 01865 223166
Email: jane.rumbold@ouh.nhs.uk