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"A doctor prescribed some tests, but I didn't have them done. I didn't want to know," David admitted. At the age of 31, David, married with a young daughter, refused to pay attention to the slight tremor on his left side that had been bothering him for years.

A generalist, who was a member of his family, finally convinced him to see a neurologist. He went, accompanied by his wife, because he did not want to face the doctor alone. "You undoubtedly have Parkinson's disease," the young intern brutally announced to him and left. As a consequence, David harbours a violent resentment against the medical corps that he judges to be "arrogant" and bereft of any pedagogical qualities, the contrary of the medical teams he will meet later. "Humble people who look me in the eye, ask questions about how I feel, listen to me and take the time to explain the disease to me."

David quickly decided to inform his family, friends and colleagues of his illness. "In the beginning, they asked lots of questions, less later on. Now, never. I lead a normal life. I work a lot. The rest of the time I spend with my wife and daughter. It's a bit like an "American film" to say this, but the disease has given me a lot. Calm, serenity… exactly what I was looking for in life."
The disease begins by a slowing of movements, rigidity and often a resting tremor. There is not just one form of Parkinson's disease, but a series of diseases with different clinical manifestations and prognoses. It is important that patients understand this. Most forms of the disease, which are relatively benign, can be improved by long-term medical treatment with L-DOPA or its derivatives. In rare forms of the disease, this treatment is ineffective, and they are extremely invalidating.

The symptoms of Parkinson's disease are caused by massive degeneration of neurons in a structure situated deep in the brain, called the substantia nigra, at the junction between the brain and the spinal cord. These neurons communicate with other neurons by secreting a substance called dopamine. In severe forms of the disease, other structures that don't use dopamine may also be affected.

The evolution of Parkinson's disease was transformed by the use of L-DOPA and its derivatives. These substances restore the concentrations of dopamine where it is needed, permitting normal communication between neurons. However, after a period of several years, the efficacy of this treatment decreases progressively because of the development of non-dopaminergic lesions and because of disagreeable side effects of the treatment, such as abnormal involuntary movements and intermittent blockade of movement. For these well characterized cases that represent about 5% of the total, an effective new neurosurgical technique has been developed, in which fine electrodes implanted in specific brain structures deliver a high frequency current under the control of an external stimulator usually placed beneath the clavicle.

The enormous challenge to research in this field is to find treatments other than L-DOPA, which will improve dopa-resistent symptoms, and treatments that will stop the progression of the disease, or even prevent it. There have been important discoveries over the last few years in this field that raise high hopes.
 
       
The goal of the ICM, a research foundation recognized of public utility, is to support the development of research on the brain and spinal cord, in any way possible.