Michael Okun, Ray Dorsey, Bas Bloem, Larry Gifford March 16: 2021 - 12:00 PM EST

We give a dime about parkinson’s and together we can end it.

Three steps to end Parkinson’s disease:

1. Increase Parkinson’s research funding TEN-FOLD
The number of Americans with Parkinson’s has increased 35% in the last decade, but inflation-adjusted funding has decreased.

2. BAN paraquat, chlorpyrifos, and trichloroethylene
These chemicals have been linked to Parkinson’s. The EPA still permits their use in American fields. Paraquat has been banned in 32 countries and increases the risk of Parkinson’s by 150%. We must do better.

3. Make Medicare’s coverage of telemedicine PERMANENT
COVID-19 has shown us that telemedicine is feasible, effective, and convenient. Let’s keep it ACCESSIBLE.

Parkinson’s disease is the fastest growing neurological disorder in the world. Over the past twenty-five years, the number of people with the condition has jumped from 3 million to over 6 million. By 2040, it will likely double again. We are failing to stop this onslaught. Harmful pesticides and other toxic chemicals that contribute to Parkinson’s surround us. At the same time, our investment in new therapies has lagged behind the disease, and many people remain undiagnosed and untreated.