We regularly check the clinical trials to see what's new (and what studies need the help of participants) and we hope you do to! There are many types of trials. Some trials are "interventions", where a therapy or medicine is used that may make a difference in PD symptoms. Other trials are "obversation", where the study does not address PD symptoms, but helps researchers better understand the disease.

We visit PD Trials every other week to see what's new, searching by location and then within 100 miles or so of our zip code. This new intervention study of rasagiline as an add-on to dopamine agonists is taking trial participants. (You may know rasagiline better by its brand name, Azilect.) The study mapping mood in Parkinson's disease for those who've had deep brain stimulation (DBS) is an observational study that looks interesting and may help researchers better understand the neural circuitry involved in mood changes. And the study of Dynacirc CR is testing whether a medication approved for treatment of high blood pressure (but not yet for PD) may be safe, effective and help slow the progression of PD (nearest contact location is in Cincinnati).

We also regularly visit NET-PD. Presently, the NIH is recruiting folks for a large-scale study of the nutritional supplement creatine.

There are some good links to information about your rights as a participant in clinical trials on our website. We also encourage you to mark your calendars now for this month's Lunch & Learn (May 26th at noon at Meadowview Presbyterian Church). Local person with PD Karen deGraaf will be speaking about clinical trials, and will be available to answer your questions!

It only takes a few hours each month to make a major impact in improving the quality of life for nursing home residents. The State Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program (SLTCO) is recruiting volunteers for their Certified Ombudsman and Friendly Visitors programs. Friendly visitors are exactly as they sound--people who go to nursing homes simply to visit with residents. Certified Ombudman volunteers are trained to investigate concerns, regularly visit long-term care facilities, monitor conditions and provide a voice for those unable to speak for themselves. For more information: call 800-372-2991.

Both LG&E and Kentucky Utilities are asking the Public Service Commission for higher utility rates, raising rates for electricity by 12% and natural gas by 9%. Our friends at AARP are concerned that now is not the time for big rate hikes. Too many working families, the disabled and older Kentuckians struggle each month to pay for life's basics--like prescription drugs and food. Learn more about the proposed rate hikes and how you can voice your opinion by visiting AARP's website.

New York City has created a free game to help folks learn how to protect themselves from financial fraud. "Fraud and identity theft typically rise in financially difficult times," says Ali Hodin-Baier, executive director of the Aging in New York Fund. You can download "It's My Money!" free by visiting this site.

PSCKY is now on Facebook! Please "become a fan" or, in the new terminology, "like" us. Thanks to everyone who's joined up so far!We now have over 320 "fans"...and we welcome your pictures, posts and conversations on our Facebook site.

Michele Hundley sent along this link to the long and slightly terrifying President's Cancer Panel Report on Reducing Environmental Cancer Risk--What We Can Do Now. If you're not up to 240 pages of reading, you can read a good New York Times article on the panel and its findings here.

Just in case you missed it last week (and in light of some of the information above in that Cancer Panel Report!)...We know many of you are interested in reducing the amount of herbicides and pesticides consumed with your food. Here's a comprehensive list of Louisville Farmers' Markets, with hours and other useful info. Remember, talk to the farmer about his or her use of pesticides; it's best to buy organically grown food. It may be a bit more expensive than "big box produce", but the nutritional content is higher, so you really get "more food" for your dollars!

We appreciate our friends at PDPlan4Life adding PSCKY to their Partners Page on their excellent website! Thank you!

The NIA has released an excellent on-line publication on the topic: "Can Alzheimer's Disease Be Prevented?" You can view it here or use this same link to order a printed copy!

A fascinating study recently published in the Journal of Neurophysiology shows that people with PD are best able to learn new tasks when they are not medicated. The researchers concluded that dopamine overdosing in healthy parts of the brain hampers early stages of sequence learning.

If you or someone you know lost a loved one recently, you may be interested in walking through your grief with others in a similar situation. The workshop is designed for those who have suffered loss more than 4 months ago. This Grief Recovery Workshop Series will be held on Tuesdays from 6:30-8:30pm at Southeast Christian Church in room ED 214 from May 4-June 29, 2010. For more info, call Debbie White at 502-262-1796 or send her an e-mail.

Mayor Abramson is encouraging citizens age 50+ to take part in the Louisville's Fifty and Over Games from May 15-23. This annual event for athletes from Louisville includes 17 events for folks of all skills and abilities.

The next Community Conversation with Mayor Abramson will be at 6:30pm on Monday, May 18th at Newbury Middle School Gym, 4901 Exeter Ave.

All About Stroke: Risk Factors & Current Updates will be held Thursday, May 20th from 6-8pm at Norton Audubon Hospital. This class will include relaxation therapy to lower blood pressure. To register, call 502-639-1234. As there's a link between PD & stroke, we strongly urge you to consider attending this free workshop.

The Alzheimer's Association is offering free workshops to help identify potential safety concerns (cooking, power tools, weapons, smoking, medications) associated with care for a person with dementia at home. The workshop will also discuss driving safely. MedicAlert+Safe Return enrollment will be offered with scholarship available for all workshop participants. A light meal will be served. Please call 1-800-272-3900 to register for either:

• Thursday, May 20, 2010 at 5:30pm in Shelbyville, KY at the Multi-Purpose Community Action Agency (207 Washington St)
• Wednesday, May 26, 2010 at 6pm in Louisville, KY at the Alternative Adult Day Health Care Center (147 Wilma Ave)

The Nazareth Retreat Center will offer a silent directed retreat with optional Group Centering Prayer for both men and women from May 24-29. Choose from three to six consecutive days. Call 502-348-1597 or visit them online.

An Alzheimer's Safety Workshop will be held at the Adult Day Center on Wednesday, May 26th at 6pm. This free event will include dinner and educational materials. Please RSVP by May 21st by calling 502-955-1750. The event will be held at 147 Wilma Ave, Louisville KY 40299.

Arden Courts will be presenting "What to Do When Your Loved One Has Lewy Body Dementia" on Wednesday, May 26th. Registration is from 5:30-6pm and the presentation by Dr. Nancy J. Stiles will be from 6-7pm. For more info and to RSVP, please call 502-423-8776. Our own Adina Cook will be there with an information table!

The Mayor's Healthy Hometown Hike & Bike is scheduled for Memorial Day (May 31st) at 10am at Waterfront Park. This is a great event for walkers and bikers, and there is even a wheelchair accessible route! For more information, visit here!

Christ Church United Methodist (4614 Brownsboro Rd) will hold a Senior Expo on Wednesday, June 2nd from 10am-3pm. This free expos will include screenings, information booths and much more. For more info, contact Nancy Trentham at 502-649-7919.