Every Breakthrough Began With Research
Research has transformed our understanding of Parkinson's and Lewy body dementia, driving better care.
Milestones That Changed the Field
1817
Parkinson’s Disease is First Described
James Parkinson published the first clear clinical description of the condition then known as the “shaking palsy,” providing a foundation for recognizing and studying the disease.
1912
Lewy Bodies Are Discovered
Friedrich Lewy identified the abnormal structures inside nerve cells that later became known as Lewy bodies—a defining pathological feature of Parkinson’s disease and dementia with Lewy bodies.
1950s–1960s
Dopamine Research Transforms Treatment
The discovery that Parkinson’s is associated with severe dopamine loss led to levodopa, which revolutionized symptom treatment and remains a cornerstone of care today.
1990s
Deep Brain Stimulation Opens a New Treatment Path
Deep brain stimulation emerged as an effective option for selected people with Parkinson’s whose movement symptoms or medication-related complications could no longer be controlled adequately with medication alone.
1996
Dementia With Lewy Bodies Gains a Common Diagnostic Framework
The first international consensus criteria gave clinicians and researchers a shared framework for recognizing and diagnosing dementia with Lewy bodies.
1997
Alpha-Synuclein Moves to the Center of Research
Researchers linked a mutation in the alpha-synuclein gene to inherited Parkinson’s and identified the protein as a major component of Lewy bodies, connecting genetics with disease pathology.
2004
Genetics Reveals a New Therapeutic Pathway
The discovery that mutations in the LRRK2 gene can cause inherited Parkinson’s identified a defined biological pathway that could be studied and targeted therapeutically.
2008
Evidence Suggests Lewy Pathology May Spread
The discovery of Lewy body-like pathology in transplanted nerve cells suggested that disease-related alpha-synuclein may move from affected cells into previously healthy cells.
2018
Genetics Deepens Our Understanding of DLB
A major genetic study identified APOE, SNCA, and GBA as important risk loci in dementia with Lewy bodies, revealing biological links with both Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease.
2020s
Disease Biology Becomes Detectable During Life
Alpha-synuclein seed amplification assays have made it possible to detect pathological alpha-synuclein in biological samples, advancing the prospect of more objective and potentially earlier diagnosis of Parkinson’s and dementia with Lewy bodies.
Preclinical and Clinical Research: Both Are Essential
Preclinical Research
It helps scientists understand disease mechanisms, identify therapeutic targets, and decide which ideas are sufficiently promising and safe to test further.
Clinical Research
It determines how a diagnostic method or treatment performs in people. It asks whether an approach is safe, whether it reaches its intended target, and whether it produces a meaningful benefit for patients.
Neither can succeed alone. Without strong preclinical science, clinical trials may test the wrong idea; without clinical research, even the most promising laboratory discovery can never reach patients.
From Scientific Discovery to a New Treatment
A promising laboratory finding cannot move directly into routine medical care. It must pass through a long sequence of studies designed to determine whether it is biologically meaningful, sufficiently safe, and genuinely beneficial for patients.
The full journey from an early laboratory discovery to an approved treatment can take up to 15 years, and many candidates do not complete every stage. This is why sustained funding, collaboration, and carefully designed research are essential.
Discovery and Target Identification
Researchers identify a disease mechanism, biological pathway, or potential therapeutic target and ask whether changing it could protect nerve cells or improve symptoms.
Preclinical Research
The idea is tested in laboratory systems such as cells, organoids, computational models, and—in some cases—animals. Researchers examine how the treatment works, whether it produces the intended effect, and whether there are important safety concerns before it can be studied in humans.
Phase 1—Is It Safe?
The treatment is first tested in a small number of participants to evaluate its safety, determine an appropriate dosage, identify potential side effects, and understand how it behaves in the human body. This phase typically takes several months to complete.
Phase 2—Does It Show a Meaningful Effect?
The treatment is then studied in a larger group of people with the disease. Researchers assess whether it shows early signs of benefit, continue to monitor its safety, and refine the dose and design of future studies. Phase 2 studies typically last from several months to two years.
Phase 3—Can the Benefit Be Confirmed?
The treatment is then evaluated in larger groups of participants to determine whether it provides a meaningful clinical benefit. Researchers continue to monitor its safety, including less common side effects and potential risks. Phase 3 trials may involve hundreds or thousands of participants and typically last between one to four years.
Review, Approval, and Continued Monitoring
Regulatory authorities review the full evidence on quality, safety, and effectiveness. After approval, treatments continue to be monitored as they are used by larger and more diverse patient populations.
Progress Is Built One Step at a Time
Each breakthrough emerged from many individual contributions: a carefully observed symptom, a laboratory experiment, an unexpected result, a new technology, or a collaboration that brought different expertise together.
That is why funding research at every stage matters.
The Breakthroughs Still Ahead
Earlier and More Precise Diagnosis
Biomarkers that identify Parkinson’s and dementia with Lewy bodies before substantial changes in movement, cognition, or independence have occurred.
Therapies That Slow or Stop Disease
Treatments that target alpha-synuclein, protect vulnerable nerve cells, reduce damaging inflammation, and interrupt the biological processes driving progression.
Better Treatment for People Living With Disease Today
More effective symptom control, fewer treatment-related complications, and better options for people with advanced Parkinson’s or dementia with Lewy bodies.
More Individualized Care
A clearer understanding of why diseases differ between people and which treatments are most likely to benefit each individual.
A Stronger International Research Community
Talented scientists trained in the right methods, connected to leading institutions, and equipped to build future Parkinson’s and dementia with Lewy bodies research groups.
Help Make the Next Breakthrough Possible
The history of Parkinson’s and dementia with Lewy bodies research shows that progress is possible—but it also shows that progress requires time, persistence, and sustained investment.
Your donation can fund the experiment that validates a new idea, help a promising therapy take its next step, or give a talented scientist access to the expertise needed to move the field forward.
Together, we can help turn today’s unanswered questions into tomorrow’s breakthroughs.
