Parkinson's disease is one of the most common neurologic disorders, affecting many people over the age of 40 and more than 15% of all people over age 65. This book is written specifically for anyone who has been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, as well as families members and friends. It will serve as a guide to learning about the disease and its potential impact on your life. It describes the nature of Parkinson's disease and treatments that are available for its management, as well as the results of research efforts devoted to the discovery of improved treatments. This is a time of great excitement in research and rapid advances in clinical management, such that most people diagnosed with the disease can continue to lead full and productive lives.
Section I discusses the symptoms and brain lesions that characterize Parkinson's disease, the management of its primary symptoms with levodopa, the management of secondary symptoms and complications, surgical treatments, and the concept of "wellness" in living with chronic illness.
Section II reviews research devoted to improving the management of the disease, including the development of treatments that will prolong the effectiveness of levodopa, the search for longer acting agents, and the improvement of late stage complications of the disease. This is followed by chapters that discuss the search for a cure for the disease and prospects for replacing the neurons lost as a result of the disease process. Of particular interest is a detailed discussion of clinical trials, their role in the development of new therapies, and points to be considered before participating.