Tag Archives: Parkinson Disease

Inhaled Levodopa

Introduction Levodopa was the first main, and arguably still the best, treatment for Parkinson’s disease. Being similar in structure to tyrosine, it is absorbed through the gut by an amino acid transporter – its half life in the blood is … Continue reading

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Safinamide in Parkinson’s Disease

  Background The rather specific dopaminergic deficit in Parkinson’s disease (PD) has meant that dopaminergic replacement medications have proven to be an effective mainstay of treatment of the condition. However, later on in the course of the disease, such treatment … Continue reading

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Clinical Features and Pathology of “Parkinson’s Plus” Syndromes

Background It has long been known that there exist variants of Parkinson’s disease (PD), loosely and perhaps inaccurately described as PD plus syndromes, that may carry features of Parkinsonism but which also have other clinical features. Such conditions have distinct … Continue reading

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Journal Club Review: A Double-Blind, Delayed-Start Trial of Rasagiline in Parkinson’s Disease

Summary for General Readers Given it was first introduced to treat Parkinson’s disease in the 1960’s (see the accompanying background information on Parkinson’s disease for general readers), it is surprising that it was not until four decades later that a major … Continue reading

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Primer on Parkinson’s Disease for General Readers

Pathology Parkinson’s Disease (PD) is a relatively common condition affecting around 1% of all individuals aged over 60, and increasing towards 5% of those over 80. It is characterised by neurodegeneration, a “wearing out” of certain groups of nerve cells … Continue reading

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