EPDA Champions Change for People With Parkinson's Disease in Europe

Organisation Initiates Their Broadest-Ever Parkinson's Research Project

LONDON, April 12, 2010 - To mark the first European Parkinson's Action Day, the
European Parkinson's Disease Association (EPDA) today announces the launch of
a major new investigation into the care of people with Parkinson's across 36
European countries.

The research is being undertaken as part of a three year
programme by the EPDA to build the largest bank of comparable data on
Parkinson's diagnosis, management and treatment practices across Europe.
Ultimately the organisation wishes to use this research to help decision
makers and healthcare professionals improve the quality of care for people
with Parkinson's. Results from the first wave of the survey will be announced
at the second European Parkinson's Action Day in 2011.

"We're delighted this important research has been launched
across Europe. Action is needed now to identify gaps in Parkinson's disease
care so we can encourage and support Governments in improving patient
services and outcomes", comments Knut-Johan Onarheim, EPDA President.
"Parkinson's affects a staggering 6.3 million people worldwide and the social
and economic burden of the disease continues to grow. We know if treated
early and properly we can help to significantly reduce the human and social
costs of the disease. This is our aim for people with Parkinson's across
Europe."

Both the new research and the European Parkinson's Action Day
form part of the EPDA's Move for Change initiative. Launched in 2009, Move
for Change aims to instigate change at the highest levels to ensure that
people with Parkinson's receive proper diagnosis and treatment at the right
time.

For more information on the EPDA's research project or the
Move for Change initiative, please visit:
www.epda.eu.com/projects/moveForChange/2009/

Notes to editors

About Parkinson's disease

Parkinson's disease is the second most common progressive
neurodegenerative condition which affects people from all cultures and races
around the world.

It is estimated that approximately 6.3 million people have
Parkinson's worldwide, with 1 in 10 being diagnosed before the age of 50
years. There is currently no cure. It affects old, young, men, women and
impacts greatly on all the family.

Parkinson's symptoms are different in everyone; they can vary
from day-to-day, hour-to-hour, even minute-to minute. Not everyone
experiences the same symptoms and it affects every aspect of daily living. It
has been described as being 'trapped' within your own body. Whilst treatment
is constantly improving, researchers have not yet been able to find a way to
prevent or cure Parkinson's.

About EPDA

The European Parkinson's Disease Association (EPDA) is a
non-political, non-religious and non-profit making organisation concerned
with the health and welfare of people living with Parkinson's disease and
their families and carers.

The EPDA, founded in 1992, helps support more than 1.2 million
people with Parkinson's and their families across Europe. It has a membership
of 43 Parkinson's disease associations (representing more than 200,000 people
with Parkinson's and their carers) and seven associate members, including the
Movement Disorder Society (MDS), European Federation of National Societies
(EFNS), European Federation of Neurological Associations (EFNA) and
Association of Physiotherapists in Parkinson's Disease Europe (APPDE).

Vision: Enabling full life with Parkinson's while supporting
the search for a cure.

Mission Statement: To ease the lives of people with
Parkinson's disease and their families and carers by promoting a constructive
dialogue between science and society, and by encouraging and supporting the
development of national Parkinson's disease organisations.

Read more about the organisation, its work programme,
activities and events, projects, news and publications and Parkinson's
information by visiting their home page (www.epda.eu.com).

For further information, please contact Tonic Life Communications: Leah Peyton: T: +44-(0)207-798-9923, E: leah.peyton at toniclc.com or Gurjit Hothi: T: +44-(0)207-7798-9998, E: gurjit.hothi at toniclc.com