The Parkinson's Foundation announced on Monday that it has awarded community grants, valued at more than USD1.5m, for Parkinson's programmes in 38 states across the country.

For 2019, the Foundation's grant will focus on three areas including: programmes that provide a service for underserved PD communities, initiatives that reach the newly diagnosed and clinical trial education and participation that reach those under-represented in the PD community.

The USD1.5m in community grants range from a minimum of USD5,000 to a maximum of USD25,000 per grant application.

Through the community grants, the Foundation will support local health, wellness and educational programmes that address unmet needs in the Parkinson's disease (PD) community. The programmes include wellness, dance, music therapy and educational programmes that can help people with Parkinson's live better with the disease.

Parkinson's disease is the second-most common neurodegenerative disease after Alzheimer's and is the 14th-leading cause of death in the US. It is associated with a progressive loss of motor control such as shaking or tremor at rest and lack of facial expression, as well as non-motor symptoms like depression and anxiety. The Parkinson's Foundation makes life better for people with Parkinson's disease by improving care and advancing research toward a cure.