- Parkinson’s disease is the fastest growing neurological condition in the world, and the reasons for this are unclear.
- One of the main drugs offered to people with Parkinson’s disease is levodopa, which helps with symptoms affecting movement.
- A global team of researchers have now shown that the efficacy of the drug can be improved by being administered continuously via a pump, rather than orally, which is how it is usually taken.
Parkinson’s disease affects over
It is a progressive, degenerative condition characterised by loss of the dopaminergic cells in the substantia nigra part of the brain.
It causes a range of symptoms, including problems with motor control, shakes, rigidity, slow movement, balance problems, sensory problems depression and anxiety.
Levodopa is the most effective drug available at present for treating the motor control aspect of the condition. It is a precursor to dopamine and increases signalling in the brain, but it becomes less effective over time as the condition progresses.
There is no cure for Parkinson’s disease at present.
Other drugs are available, as well as a surgical technique known as deep brain stimulation, but this comes with its own set of risks.
While therapy for Parkinson’s disease can be beneficial in managing symptoms and improving quality of life, there are several limitations and challenges associated with these treatments, said Dr. Daniel Truong, neurologist and medical director of the Truong Neuroscience Institute at MemorialCare Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, CA, and editor-in-chief of the Journal of Clinical Parkinsonism and Related Disorders.
Speaking of treatments, he told Medical News Today:
“Medications used to treat Parkinson’s disease, such as levodopa and dopamine agonists, can lose effectiveness over time, leading to the development of motor fluctuations and dyskinesias. Side effects of medications…
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