Although the Parkinson’s Progressive Marker Initiative (PPMI) Smell Test is only offered to those who are sixty years of age and older, and live int the United States or Canada, I choose to use this platform to convey this opportunity because, quite frankly, a majority of my readers do qualify.
I have been participating in PPMI research, via online questionnaires, since 2022. I receive an invitation every three to six months. The smell test is different. I am actually asked to spread the word, inviting qualified individuals to take part in the study. Here is what they had to say:
Dear Keith,
Thank you for your contributions to the Parkinson’s Progression Markers Initiative (PPMI). Through PPMI, we are learning that ongoing smell loss is one of the most important signals of risk for Parkinson’s disease.
PPMI is exploring this link toward prevention. As a participant in PPMI, you’re our best ambassador. We need your help getting the word out. PPMI is asking everyone age 60 and up without Parkinson’s disease to take a free scratch-and-sniff test.
Encourage your loved ones to follow the steps below:
Visit mysmelltest.org/ppmionline.
Answer a few brief questions to receive your scratch-and-sniff test in the mail.
Take the test and enter your answers online.Please also feel free to use our smell test toolkit, which includes an email/letter template, talking points, a flyer and more.
We are grateful for your participation in the study that’s changing everything. Thank you for helping us spread the word about this important initiative.
Sincerely,
Your PPMI Study Team
Should you choose to participate, you will be asked to create an account at PPMI where you can decide your level of future participation. You will be asked general questions about where you live, your contact information, your general background, and your ties to PD. Assuming you complete the required fields, you will be told that a Smell Test Toolkit is forthcoming.
Obviously, I encourage you to participate if you qualify. I have relatives, by blood and by marriage, who have PD and may already be participating in other PPMI research opportunities. Please add yourself to the list of those who are fighting to find treatments, causes, and cures for this insidious disease.
Those of you who are too young to qualify for the smell test research, I encourage you to go to PPMI, look into other research opportunities for you to participate in, create your account, and help with this program.
Thank you in advance for your efforts!
I was thinking about the smell test and wondered if having COVID where you often lose your sense of smell impacts this test. Some people have long-term loss of smell and taste.
Good question. I’ll see if I can find an answer.
Not sure if I would want to know the results, although I encourage women to get genetic testing for defects that could lead to cancer. I guess I am being hypocritical.
I get that. I didn’t take that test. This is a little different in that it’s for research.