Parkinson’s Disease Research, Education and Clinical Centers

In 2001, the Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) created six specialized centers known as the Parkinson’s Disease Research, Education, and Clinical Centers or "PADRECCs". These Centers of Excellence are designed to serve the estimated 110,000 veterans affected by PD through state-of-the-art clinical care, education, research, and national outreach and advocacy. The PADRECCs are staffed by internationally known movement disorder specialists, neurosurgeons, psychiatrists, psychologists, nurses, researchers, educators, social workers, and other PD experts. The PADRECCs are located in Philadelphia, Richmond, Houston, West Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Portland/Seattle. The PADRECCs assist veterans in effectively managing PD and other movement disorders by way of VA pharmacy benefits, physical, occupational, and speech therapies, medical equipment, surgical services, and other valuable resources.

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a chronic, neurological disease, commonly referred to as a movement disorder. It is caused by a loss of dopamine producing cells in the brain. Classic motor symptoms of PD include tremor during rest, stiff limbs, slowness of movement, and gait and balance problems that progress over time. Non-motor symptoms, such as sleep disturbances, urinary dysfunction, constipation, swallowing problems, mood disorders, and cognitive deficits, can occur as well. There is currently no cure for PD, however, many effective medications and treatment options are available.
More about Parkinson's disease.

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The PADRECCs treat veterans with other types of movement disorders in addition to PD. "Parkinsonism" is the generic term used to refer to slowness and mobility problems that mimic PD. Movement disorders are a group of neurological illnesses affecting one’s ability to produce and/or control movement. Other diagnoses commonly treated by the PADRECCs include essential tremor (ET), restless leg syndrome (RLS), dystonia, atypical parkinsonian disorders or "parkinson plus" syndromes (such as Lewy body disease (LBD), progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), multiple system atrophy (MSA), and corticobasal degeneration (CBD)).

A PADRECC Associated Site is a VA clinic that offers specialized PD and movement disorder specialty care to veterans who cannot travel to a PADRECC. These Centers are staffed by movement disorder specialists or clinicians with vast experience and/or interest in the field of movement disorders. Over 50 PADRECC Associated Sites work collaboratively with the PADRECCs to ensure the highest level of care for all veterans.
Locate a PADRECC Associated Site.

The National VA PD Network is a professional society comprised of VA physicians, nurses, therapists, and pharmacists with interest and expertise in the field of movement disorders. The Network was launched in 2003 by the PADRECCs to expand PD awareness and education across the VA Healthcare System. The Network offers peers mentorship, education and training.
More about the Network.