Parkinson's in Black Americans: symptoms, care, and genetics
Racial Disparities in Parkinson Disease- Clinical Phenotype, Management and Genetics
This project compares symptoms, treatments, and genetics in Black and White people with Parkinson's disease to find ways to improve care for Black patients.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Rush University Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11320753 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would be asked to join one of seven U.S. sites and complete tests of movement, non-movement symptoms, and quality-of-life questionnaires. The team will collect information about your medications, therapies, and any surgeries and may ask for a genetic sample to look for differences tied to symptoms. They plan to enroll about 400 Black and 200 White participants so they can compare experiences and genetic variation across groups. Results will be used to create clinician guidelines and educational programs with Parkinson's foundations to help Black patients better manage their condition.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults diagnosed with Parkinson's disease — especially Black or African American individuals — who can attend one of the U.S. study sites and are willing to share medical information and provide a genetic sample.
Not a fit: People without Parkinson's, children, or those unwilling to share medical records or provide a genetic sample are unlikely to benefit directly from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could produce clinician guidelines, community education, and more personalized care that reduce disparities for Black people with Parkinson's.
How similar studies have performed: Previous research on Parkinson's in Black populations is limited and mixed, so this larger, focused effort is relatively novel though it builds on smaller studies that suggested clinical and genetic differences.
Where this research is happening
Chicago, United States
- Rush University Medical Center — Chicago, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hall, Deborah a — Rush University Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Hall, Deborah a
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.