title: 5: Movement disorders I: parkinsonism and the akinetic-rigid syndromes.
abstract: The major features of akinetic-rigid syndromes are bradykinesia (small, slow movements), rigidity and tremor, often summarised as "parkinsonism". Approximately 80% of akinetic-rigid syndromes are due to Parkinson's disease. Treatment of Parkinson's disease should be determined by level of disability and handicap. The combination of levodopa and peripheral dopadecarboxylase inhibitor is the most efficacious symptomatic treatment for Parkinson's disease. Motor fluctuations appear after 2-3 years of levodopa treatment, and affect at least 50% of patients after five years. Surgery can relieve refractory tremor and dyskinesias, but does not alter disease progression or need for drug therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Royal Adelaide Hospital and University of Adelaide, SA.
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Rice
authors.forename: P D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Thompson
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000978:Antiparkinson Agents / Q000009:adverse effects; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019578:Multiple System Atrophy / Q000175:diagnosis; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery; D010302:Parkinson Disease, Secondary / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D011379:Prognosis
chemical_list: D000978:Antiparkinson Agents