Assembly Member Tony Thurmond, Chair

April 13, 2015

Assembly Member Tony Thurmond, Chair

Assembly Committee on Health and Human Services

State Capitol, Room 5150

Sacramento, CA 94249-0015

Phone: (916) 319-2015

Email:

Senator Holly J. Mitchell, Chair

Senate Subcommittee #3 on Health and

Human Services

State Capitol, Room 5080

Sacramento, CA 95814

Phone: (916) 651-4030

Email:

Dear Chair Mitchell and Chairman Thurmond:

I am writing you to urge your support to fund the implementation of the California Parkinson’s Disease Registry. Parkinson’s Disease is a chronic, progressive neurological disease that is believed to be diagnosed in nearly 70,000 people each year in the U.S. It is the 14th leading cause of death in the United States per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Current estimates range from 1 to 2 million Americans living with the disease, but the exact number is unknown. Recent studies at University of California at Los Angeles have indicated that pesticides that end up in well water are linked to an increased risk of Parkinson’s disease.

California is the only state that has maintained a database that has tracked the use of pesticides and other toxic chemicals since the 1970’s. We have an opportunity now, however, to geographically map out the incidents of Parkinson’s in California to advance the research and identify the causes of this devastating disease, which will lead us toward a cure. The Pilot program that began in 2008 indicated that California counties using the highest level of pesticide use also had the highest rates of Parkinson’s Disease. Also, there is a growing consensus among researchers that persons with Parkinson’s Disease have a genetic predisposition, but the disease is triggered by something in the environment. The registry gives us the best opportunity to identify these triggers. I URGE you to support funding the California Parkinson’s Registry.

I want the registry implemented because

Sincerely,

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