title: [Short history of L-Dopa].
abstract: The introduction of L-Dopa has been a landmark in Neuroscience. Before the use of L-Dopa, Parkinson's disease (PD) was considered a disabling disease with no effective treatment. The development of L-Dopa followed a rationale approach: first, the discovery of dopamine deficiency in the striatum of patients with PD; and then the use of precursor of dopamine. Overall, the whole process took less than 12 years; this is a remarkable short time taking into account that the development of a similar crucial drug such as insulin took 50 years. In addition, the success of L-Dopa stimulated the neurochemistry research for all neurodegenerative diseases.
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Movimientos Anormales, Servicio de Neurología, Fundación Jiménez Díaz, Madrid, Spain. pgarcia@fjd.es
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: García Ruiz
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Meseguer
mesh_terms: D000978:Antiparkinson Agents / Q000266:history* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000266:history / Q000627:therapeutic use; D049673:History, 20th Century; D006801:Humans; D007980:Levodopa / Q000266:history* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000266:history*; D012110:Reserpine / Q000266:history / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000978:Antiparkinson Agents; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D007980:Levodopa; D012110:Reserpine
vernacular_title: Breve historia de la L-Dopa.