When it comes to our health, knowledge is power — not just for ourselves, but for our families and future generations. That’s why The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research (MJFF) is inviting African American and Black individuals age 40 and older to take part in a simple, free research study that could help unlock clues to better understand and one day prevent Parkinson’s disease.
For the African American and Black community in particular, this type of research is especially important. Parkinson’s affects people of all races and ethnicities, but without diverse participation, researchers may miss key insights that could lead to earlier disease detection and personalized treatments for everyone. It all starts with an easy and quick 15-minute scratch-and-sniff smell test you can do at home.
Understanding Parkinson’s and Smell Loss
Parkinson’s disease is a brain disorder that affects nearly 1 million people in the U.S., and that number is expected to rise. While motor symptoms like tremors, stiffness and slowed movements are well-known, loss of smell is one of the earliest signs of disease risk, often showing up years or even decades before motor symptoms. This lesser-known symptom, called hyposmia, could hold clues to unlocking how and why Parkinson’s develops. While not everyone who loses their sense of smell will go on to develop Parkinson’s, studying people with hyposmia helps researchers understand who is most at risk and how the disease progresses.
Participate in Parkinson’s Research
MJFF’s landmark observational study, Parkinson’s Progression Markers Initiative (PPMI) [link: https://www.michaeljfox.org/ppmi] follows participants over time and aims to change how we understand, detect and treat Parkinson’s. PPMI is now inviting adults age 40 and older — with and without Parkinson’s — to take a free scratch-and-sniff smell test. This simple test is a first step to seeing if you qualify to join a larger observational study that tracks brain health over time.
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Participating is easy:
- Request a free test to be delivered to your home
- Take about 15 minutes to complete the test
- Upload your results online
- You’ll receive follow-up materials if you qualify for the next step of the study
Your information is safe with us. All identifying information like your name and address is removed before any data is used by researchers.
Why Your Involvement Matters
Participating in this study is will help researchers understand more about how Parkinson’s impacts the African American and Black community, which has historically been underrepresented in health research. Because of this, there is limited data on how the disease impacts our diverse experiences. By taking part, you help build a future where treatments work better for everyone.
Studies show that 84% of multicultural individuals participate in research to help future generations, not just themselves. If that sounds like you — someone who wants to leave a legacy of better health for future generations — this is your moment.
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This one simple test could be the first step toward breakthroughs in understanding and preventing Parkinson’s. The more diverse voices and data we include in the research, the more powerful our progress becomes.
Make a Difference Today
If you are African American or Black, age 40 or older — whether or not you have Parkinson’s — you are eligible to take the free smell test.
