ACR 160: Parkinson’s Disease Awareness Month.

WHEREAS, Parkinson’s disease is a chronic, progressive neurological disease and is the second most common neurodegenerative disease in the United States; and

WHEREAS, The symptoms of Parkinson’s disease vary from person to person and can include tremors, slowness of movement and rigidity, gait and balance difficulties, speech and swallowing disturbances, cognitive impairment and dementia, mood disorders, and a variety of other nonmotor symptoms; and

WHEREAS, Parkinson’s disease is the fastest growing neurological disease in the United States; and

WHEREAS, It is estimated that 90,000 individuals are diagnosed annually with Parkinson’s disease in North America, 50 percent higher than research previously suggested; and

WHEREAS, There is inadequate data on the incidence and prevalence of Parkinson’s disease, but it is estimated to affect nearly 1,600,000 people in the United States, and that number is expected to more than double by 2040; and

WHEREAS, Parkinson’s disease is the 15th leading cause of death in the United States, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; and

WHEREAS, There are millions of Americans who are caregivers, family members, and friends greatly impacted by Parkinson’s disease; and

WHEREAS, There is no known cure or drug to slow or halt the progression of the disease, and available treatments are limited in their ability to address patients’ medical needs and remain effective over time; and

WHEREAS, Research indicates environmental exposures may contribute to Parkinson’s disease risk, and California continues to evaluate emerging science related to pesticide exposure and neurological health; and

WHEREAS, In 2024, California enacted Assembly Bill 1963 of the 2023–24 Regular Session, which addresses the registration and reevaluation of certain pesticide products, including paraquat, with further scientific review and regulatory action anticipated in the coming years; and

WHEREAS, Ongoing state and federal review processes, including reevaluation timelines extending through the end of the decade, are intended to ensure that public health decisions reflect the best available evidence and protect Californians; and

WHEREAS, Volunteers, researchers, caregivers, and medical professionals are working to improve the quality of life of people living with Parkinson’s disease and their families; and

WHEREAS, It is estimated that Parkinson’s disease costs $52 billion per year, of which the federal government shoulders $25 billion, leaving American families to cover the remaining amount; and

WHEREAS, According to the State Department of Public Health Parkinson’s Disease Registry, over 130,000 people in California have Parkinson’s disease; and

WHEREAS, Estimates indicate Parkinson’s disease costs the state $5.8 billion annually for direct and indirect health care costs; and

WHEREAS, The California Parkinson’s Disease Registry was created in 2017 through the state budget and became operational in 2018. The California Parkinson’s Disease Registry has become a model for the nation and the world as it collects patient information that can help improve our understanding and treatment of Parkinson’s disease; and

WHEREAS, Now expanded to include more data on related diseases, the California Neurodegenerative Disease Registry has collected hundreds of thousands of electronic records and formed reporting partnerships with more than 500 reporting entities, including health groups such as Sutter Health, Kaiser Permanente, Dignity Health, Scripps Health, and Stanford Health Care, allowing patient data to automatically be sent from the physician’s office to the state. After the data is processed by the State Department of Public Health, it is made available to research institutions in an effort to improve treatments and eventually find a cure for the disease; and

WHEREAS, Research suggests the cause of Parkinson’s disease is a combination of genetic and environmental factors, but the exact cause in most individuals is still unknown; and

WHEREAS, In 2010, the Michael J. Fox Foundation launched its landmark research study, the Parkinson’s Progression Markers Initiative (PPMI), to better understand Parkinson’s disease and advance new treatments; and

WHEREAS, As a result of the PPMI study, in April 2023, the Michael J. Fox Foundation announced the validation of the first-ever biomarker for Parkinson’s disease. For the first time in the living body, researchers can objectively detect an abnormal protein in individuals with Parkinson’s disease, and those not yet diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease who do not show clinical symptoms. This discovery represents one of the most prominent breakthroughs in brain disease research of the past decade; and

WHEREAS, Increased research, education, and community support services are needed to find more effective treatments and to provide access to quality care to those living with the disease today; and

WHEREAS, Continued public and private investment in biomedical research, early detection, and data infrastructure is essential to accelerating breakthroughs in Parkinson’s disease and other neurodegenerative conditions; and

WHEREAS, California’s universities, health systems, and research institutions play a leading role in advancing neuroscience innovation, clinical trials, and equitable access to care; and

WHEREAS, Strengthening statewide capacity for research and innovation will help ensure that California remains at the forefront of efforts to better understand, prevent, and treat Parkinson’s disease and related disorders; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate thereof concurring, That the Legislature proclaims the month of April 2026 as Parkinson’s Disease Awareness Month in California; and be it further

Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.