What:	Maestro Leon Fleisher, one of the world's most renowned classical pianists and three-time Grammy-nominee, will perform selections from his critically acclaimed new CD "Two Hands" at a pre-Thanksgiving event at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). More than 40 years ago, at the height of his career, Mr. Fleisher lost the use of his right hand to dystonia, the third most common neurological movement disorder after Parkinson's disease and essential tremor. He could no longer play the piano with both hands, and turned to teaching, conducting, and playing one-handed repertoires. The frequently misdiagnosed disorder severely impeded his performance of everyday tasks. About 10 years ago, physicians at the NIH were able to diagnose the problem as a focal dystonia and start him on a therapy which helped to reverse the condition. At the event, Mr. Fleisher will perform and also discuss his years of suffering from dystonia, his eventual diagnosis and treatment at the NIH, and his recent comeback to two-handed performance. The audience will include patients who will be relocating in early December to the new Mark O. Hatfield Clinical Research Center.
Where:	Masur Auditorium NIH Clinical Center, Building 10 National Institutes of Health Bethesda, Maryland
When:	Wednesday, November 17, 2004 4:30 p.m.
Who:	Story C. Landis, Ph.D., Director, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) Mark Hallett, M.D., Chief, Human Motor Control Section, NINDS, leading physician in Mr. Fleisher's care John I. Gallin, M.D., Director, NIH Clinical Center
RSVP:	Margo Warren, Office of Communications and Public Liaison, NINDS, 301-496-5751 Edie Elkinson, Chandler Chicco Agency, (310) 309-1004 or (310) 430-6838