title: Initial management of Parkinson's disease.
abstract: Parkinson's disease is one of the most common neurodegenerative disorders seen in the United States and United Kingdom. The disease is characterised by two processes-cellular degeneration and the resulting biochemical deficiency of dopamine. Although these processes are inter-related, they are approached separately in the clinical setting. Currently, no proven neuroprotective or disease modifying treatment is available for Parkinson's disease. Several agents can be used to treat the motor symptoms associated with dopamine deficiency, and it is important to choose wisely when starting treatment. Drugs can have mild, moderate, or high potency, and the patient's goals, comorbidities, and the short and long term implications of choosing a specific agent should be taken into account when selecting the appropriate agent. Non-motor symptoms, such as depression, fatigue, and disorders of sleep and wakefulness, also need to be evaluated and treated. Research is under way to deliver dopaminergic therapy more effectively, but studies aimed at slowing or stopping disease progression have not shown promise.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurological Sciences, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60612, USA.
authors.forename: Christopher G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Goetz
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurological Sciences, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60612, USA gian_d_pal@rush.edu.
authors.forename: Gian
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pal
mesh_terms: D000978:Antiparkinson Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018450:Disease Progression; D006801:Humans; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D000978:Antiparkinson Agents; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents