New and emerging medical therapies in Parkinson’s disease

Abstract

Alternative formulations of levodopa appear to be promising especially to help with the motor fluctuations either by providing sustained benefits with controlled released formulations or ameliorate sudden OFF by formulations such as inhaled levodopa. Several different medications affecting non-dopaminergic pathways are being evaluated which may aide levodopa. As the understanding of the disease grows further, numerous novel neuroprotective or disease modifying therapies have been suggested. This along with development of medications to treat various non-motor symptoms will help improve quality of life of patients with PD.

Neuroprotective Effects of Loganin on MPTP‐Induced Parkinson's Disease Mice: Neurochemistry, Glial Reaction and Autophagy Studies

“…Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by progressive loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra (SN), leading to clinical symptoms such as resting tremor, bradykinesia, postural instability, and attitudinal reflex deficiency [Lotharius and Brundin, ; Dauer and Przedborski, ], which results from mechanisms involving mitochondrial injury, inflammation, autophagy, protein trafficking disorder, and genetic deficiency [Wang et al, ; Leszek et al, ; Lotia and Jankovic, ]. Current PD treatment involves treatment of movement disorder, such as administration of L‐DOPA to elevate dopamine levels and enable movement [Fahn et al, ].…”

Structure, Distribution, and Genetic Profile of α-Synuclein and Their Potential Clinical Application in Parkinson’s Disease

“…Currently, despite limitations such as a large variety of motor and nonmotor symptoms and drug complications, medical therapies, especially levodopa, remain the most effective treatment of PD [70]. However, medical or surgical treatments, such as deep brain stimulation, that focus on managing the disease symptoms cannot delay or recover the progressive loss of dopamine (DA) neurons [71,72].…”

Inhibitors of protein aggregates as novel drugs in neurodegenerative diseases

“…Another pharmacological approach is represented by active or passive immunization based on α-syn antibodies [25]. Such immunogenic peptides mimic the C-terminus of α-syn [26], or can direct bind the oligomeric form of α-syn, or the Ser129 phosphorylated site of α-syn [27], which is a crucial site for α-syn accumulation [28].…”