Parkinson's disease is the second most common neurodegenerative disease after Alzheimer's, affecting at least 100,000 Canadians, with the number of cases expected to double by the year 2050.

While the ultimate cause of Parkinson's disease is unknown, symptoms are mainly thought to result from the death of brain cells that produce a chemical called dopamine.

The Parkinson Research Consortium (PRC) was formed in Ottawa in 2004 to bring together scientists with the common goals of understanding how and why these brain cells die, and applying this knowledge to the treatment of those with the condition. 

There are currently no proven treatments available to slow the relentless progression of the disease. Only through a better understanding of the basic mechanisms that cause it can effective disease-altering treatments be developed.

The PRC was awarded the The Ottawa Hospital's Research Excellence Team Award. This award recognizes a team who has made a significant contribution to the research mandate of the hospital

Quick Facts

- Parkinson's disease is a devastating neurodegenerative disease
- Parkinson's disease affects 1 in 100 people over the age of sixty
- The exact cause of the disease is unknown
- The disease was discovered almost 200 years ago and still today there is no cure or proven treatment available