CureNowPD

05/06/2026

The science is moving forward.
The clinical trials are waiting.
So why aren't enough people enrolling? 🧠💊

Here's a truth that doesn't get talked about enough:
Clinical trials sometimes fail — not because the science is wrong, but because not enough of the right people sign up.

And for too long, recruitment has been treated like a paperwork problem instead of what it really is: a mission-critical lifeline for people living with Parkinson's.

Steve DeWitte and Michelle Morianos Hespeler know this better than almost anyone. They've lived with PD for nearly 20 years.

They've watched promising trials stall. They've felt the frustration of a system that wasn't built with patients at the center.

Shouldn't that end - now?

CureNow:PD wants a smarter, more human recruitment system — one that includes:
✅ Clear priorities and shared metrics
✅ Plain-language outreach (in MULTIPLE languages)
✅ Trusted community ambassadors
✅ Real-time recruitment dashboards
✅ Participant feedback loops
✅ Standard playbooks — and a commitment to getting better every single day

Because Parkinson's research can move faster.
It can work better.
And people living with PD deserve nothing less.

03/24/2026

🧠 A full day of expert guidance — and it's completely FREE.

HHartford HealthCares Annual Parkinson's Symposium is coming up on Saturday, May 9th at the Bristol Events Center, and this is one event you don't want to miss.

From early-stage to advanced Parkinson's, nonmotor symptoms, future planning, and everything in between — a remarkable lineup of movement disorder specialists will walk you through it all.

Sponsored by PParkinson's FoundationComprehensive Care Center

📅 May 9, 2026 | 9:00am–3:30pm
📍 Bristol Events Center, Bristol, CT
💰 Free — including lunch!

Registration is required →
Fundraising.HartfordHospital.org/PDEdu2026
Share this with someone in your life who could benefit. Knowledge is one of the most powerful tools in the Parkinson's journey. 💙

Join the Chase Family Movement Disorder Center, a Parkinson’s Foundation Comprehensive Care Center, for their in-person Annual Parkinson’s Symposium. This educational program is intended for people with Parkinson's, their care partners, and others interested in movement disorders. The free event...

03/05/2026

A big thank-you to Dr. J. Antonelle deMarcaida (Hartford HealthCare Ayer Neuroscience Institute, Hartford HealthCare) and Dr. David Russell (Perceptive) for an outstanding session on Integrative Care in Parkinson’s.

What matters most to people living with Parkinson’s—and care partners—came through clearly:

✅ Non-motor symptoms (especially sleep, plus mood, cognition, constipation, pain, and more)
✅ Medication management and reducing day-to-day ups/downs
✅ Whole-person, team-based care (PT/OT/speech, mental health, sleep support, nutrition, and caregiver resources)
✅ Research progress that can change what’s possible—including advances in Alpha-synuclein PET imaging

Hartford HealthCare will be holding a Parkinson's event in May, so watch for the details!

Interested in learning more about the Alpha-synuclein PET scan study for Parkinson’s?
📍 Location: Perceptive, 60 Temple Street, 8th Floor, New Haven, CT

💬 Participants may be eligible for a stipend up to $2,500 (time + travel).

Contact:
• Laura Leary, Senior Clinic Manager — [email protected] | 203-401-4300

• David Russell, MD, PhD (Principal Investigator) — [email protected] | 203-401-4300

With gratitude to both doctors for their leadership—and to everyone in the PD community who continues to show up, ask great questions, and push progress forward.

03/03/2026

📣 TOMORROW (Wed, Mar 4) at Noon — Join us for a timely, practical webinar on Integrative Care in Parkinson’s with J. Antonelle deMarcaida, M.D., Hartford HealthCare

Living with Parkinson’s isn’t only about movement symptoms. Dr. deMarcaida will discuss the often-overlooked non-motor symptoms—and how an integrative, whole-person approach can help support better day-to-day quality of life.

Plus: a brief Alpha-Synuclein PET Tracer Study update from Dr. David Russell.

✅ Registration is required.
👉 Register today: https://bit.ly/PDPowerLunch3

Please share with anyone who may benefit—people with Parkinson’s, care partners, and clinical teams.

02/27/2026

February 28, 2026
Hartford HealthCare

Hartford HealthCare Ayer Neuroscience Institute
Hello!
A quick weekend reminder to join us for an important (and very practical) session:
“Integrative Care in Parkinson’s” with Dr. J. Antonelle deMarcaida, Medical Director, Chase Family Movement Disorders Center, part of Hartford HealthCare’s Ayer Neuroscience Institute, and “Alpha Synuclein PET Tracer Updates” by Dr. David Russell, from Perceptive.

Many people think of Parkinson’s as primarily a movement disorder—but the non-motor symptoms can be just as disruptive (and sometimes harder to talk about). Dr. deMarcaida will use that reality to segue into why an integrative, whole-person approach is crucial—and how patients and caregivers can think about care more comprehensively.

What we’ll cover (high-level):
✅ Non-motor symptoms of Parkinson’s and why they matter
✅ Why “integrative care” isn’t optional—it’s essential
✅ A brief spotlight on the Alpha Synuclein PET Tracer Study — presented by Dr. David Russell — and why it matters
✅ A resource many families don’t know about: the Hartford HealthCare Center for Healthy Aging — a 100% free-of-charge service that seniors, loved ones, and caregivers use to access essential information, assessments, and services to support optimal quality of life

About the Center for Healthy Aging:
The Hartford HealthCare Center for Healthy Aging is a resource and assessment center designed to make it easier for seniors, their loved ones and caregivers to access essential information and services to attain the optimal quality of life.

Registration link: https://bit.ly/PDPowerLunch3

If you’re living with Parkinson’s, caring for someone who is, or supporting families in your work, we hope you’ll join us—and please feel free to forward this to anyone who might benefit.

Warmly,
CureNow:PD Team
curenowpd.org

02/12/2026

Going Live at 12:15.
A few spots left but registration is required, or watch it on demand.

02/04/2026

Exercise is one of the most powerful tools we have to manage Parkinson’s.

On Thursday, Feb 12, CureNow:PD is bringing you the “how” — the real-world strategy for getting moving even on low-energy days.

After our last PD Power Lunch, we asked what you needed most. The answer was clear:

52% said the biggest hurdle isn’t information… it’s motivation, inspiration, and building habits that actually stick.

So PD Power Lunch #2 is designed as your Consistency Toolkit ✅

What you’ll get in one practical hour:

🔹 Clinical clarity from Sule Tinaz (Yale School of Medicine)
A simple, actionable breakdown of what “moderate” vs. “high intensity” exercise really means—so you can stop guessing and move with confidence.

🔹 Practical grit from Michelle Hespeler (Beat Parkinson's Today)
How to build routines that hold up when willpower fades—and how to get back on track when life (or symptoms) disrupt the plan.

🔹 Exclusive research update from David Russell (Perceptive Discovery)
A brief, cutting-edge update on the Alpha-Synuclein PET Tracer Study happening right here in New Haven.

📝 Have a question?
We’re prioritizing questions submitted in advance—add yours in the registration form (not all may be answered due to volume).

📅 Thursday, Feb 12
🕧 12:15–1:15 PM ET
📍 Online via Zoom

👉 Register here: https://bit.ly/PDPowerLunch2

If you know someone living with PD—or caring for someone—please share this. This session is built for real life.

02/04/2026

Such determination. Truly awe inspiring.

01/30/2026

This.

01/28/2026

NOW ENROLLING (New Haven, CT): Parkinson’s Research Study
Researchers are evaluating an investigational PET imaging tool using α-synuclein tracers—an approach that may help visualize the underlying disease biology in Parkinson’s by targeting α-synuclein with novel PET technology.

Seeking: people living with Parkinson’s and healthy volunteers.

What participation may include:
✅screening visit with MRI,
✅2 PET scan visits,
✅2 safety follow-up calls, and an optional imaging scan or skin biopsy.
✅Stipend up to $2,500 to help cover time and related expenses.

✅ Learn more: Call Perceptive Discovery at 203.401.4300 or email ✅ [email protected]

🙏 Please share with anyone in Connecticut who may be interested.