Contemporary Treatment of Parkinsons Disease

In the past the treatment of Parkinson's disease primarily comprised enhancing the dopaminergic functions of levodopa, stimulation of dopamine receptor sites directly by bromocriptine or by suppression of the cholinergic hyperactivity by anticholinergics such as trihexyphenidyl. Recently, new approaches have been applied aimed at protecting nigrostriatal neurons (Mitzuno Y, Mori ?, Kondo ?, 1994). These approaches involve several mechanisms - Blocking the dopamine transporter by mazindol - Blocking the NMDA-receptor by dizocilpine maleate - Improvement of neuronal survival by administration of brain-derived neurotrophic factor - Providing antioxidants such as Vitamin E - Inhibition of MAO-B by Selegiline Except for Selegiline the other supposed neuroprotective treatment methods are still in the field of experimental studies.