title: DOPA-sparing strategy in the treatment of young onset Parkinson's disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Late onset Parkinson's disease (LOPD) is a neurodegenerative disorder afflicting individuals of ages 60 and older. However, 5-10% of cases can begin earlier between the ages 20 to 40, and are classified as young onset Parkinson disease (YOPD).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  In turn, this study aims to observe the trend in the choice of drug administered to patients with both YOPD and LOPD, with particular emphasis on this trend in its relation to the practice background of the neurologist.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study was conducted in a community based Parkinson's disease and movement disorder clinic.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using a retrospective chart review data was obtained and analysed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results showed that 83% of general neurologists prescribed levodopa to their patients with YOPD, whereas movement-disorder specialists took a different approach altogether. They opted not to use levodopa and, in its stead, prescribed a mixture of alternate drugs.
authors.affiliation: Parkinson's Clinic of Eastern Toronto and Movement Disorders Center, Toronto, Canada.
authors.forename: Abdul Qayyum
authors.initials: AQ
authors.lastname: Rana
authors.affiliation: Parkinson's Clinic of Eastern Toronto and Movement Disorders Center, Toronto, Canada.
authors.forename: Mohamad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Saleh
authors.affiliation: Parkinson's Clinic of Eastern Toronto and Movement Disorders Center, Toronto, Canada; Centre for Neuroscience, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada.
authors.forename: Muhammad Saad
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Yousuf
authors.affiliation: Parkinson's Clinic of Eastern Toronto and Movement Disorders Center, Toronto, Canada.
authors.forename: Wasim
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Mansoor
authors.affiliation: Parkinson's Clinic of Eastern Toronto and Movement Disorders Center, Toronto, Canada.
authors.forename: Syed
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hussaini
authors.affiliation: Parkinson's Clinic of Eastern Toronto and Movement Disorders Center, Toronto, Canada.
authors.forename: Maniza
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rahman
authors.affiliation: Parkinson's Clinic of Eastern Toronto and Movement Disorders Center, Toronto, Canada.
authors.forename: Zohair
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Iqbal
keywords: DOPA-sparing; Parkinson's disease; general neurologist; late-onset Parkinson's disease; levodopa; movement disorder specialist; young onset Parkinson's disease