Product Description
This book provides a comprehensive overview of the basic and clinical neuropharmacology of dopamine agonists and the rationale for their employment in PD. The authors have compiled an up-to-date guide, covering such topics as the pathophysiology of dopaminergic systems and the neuro-biochemistry of dopaminergic receptors, the clinical use of old and new dopamine agonists, both in the first-time treatment of PD patients and for reducing motor fluctuations in levodopa-treated ones, and the possible role of dopamine agonists as neuroprotective agents. Particular emphasis has been placed on apomorphine, an old dopamine agonist that has recently recaptured neurologists' interest for its use in both diagnostic use and therapeutic management of advanced Parkinsonian patients. Articles discussing the results of ongoing clinical studies of newly developed dopamine agonists and the potential use of dopamine agonists, both new and old, as neuroprotectors should be of particu!lar interest to the reader. The work is an exhaustive up-to-date compendium that assembles the entire spectrum of current basic and clinical research on dopaminergic systems and dopamine agonists in Parkinson's disease into a single authoritative source.English Springer-Verlag Wien 25-JAN-1999 ... Read more

Product Description
Move It! is an indispensable guide for individuals with Parkinson's Disease and their caregivers.

Move It! is the first publication of its kind! It is a complete movement, exercise and resource guide for people with Parkinson's Disease. The book includes:
-Overview of physical symptoms;
-Medication review in easily understandable terms;
-Techniques and tricks for improved mobility including bed mobility, transfers, & walking;
-Anti-freezing techniques that really work;
-Adaptive devices for easier everyday living;
-Complete exercise programs specific for Parkinson's Disease; -Exercise programs for all physical levels (beginner, intermediate and advanced); -Complete guide and exercise program for flexibility;

And much more! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A straight, no-nonsense tone throughout
Parkinson's disease (PD) is a degenerative chronic and progressive disorder of the central nervous system that often impairs the sufferer's motor skills, speech, and other functions. It is estimated that over one million Americans and approximately six million people worldwide currently live with PD.

Presently, there are no tests available to diagnose PD and thus the sole manner in which it is diagnosed is on the basis of clinical history and findings of a neurological examination. The general primary characteristics of PD are muscle rigidity, tremor, slowing of physical movement and in extreme cases a loss of physical movement. It is believed that the fundamental cause of PD is due to the decreased stimulation of the motor cortex by the basal ganglia, normally pursuant to the insufficient formation and action of dopamine, which is produced in the dopaminergic neurons of the brain. The secondary symptoms of PD may include a high level cognitive dysfunction and subtle language problems. Although there is no cure for PD at the present moment, the combination of exercise in conjunction with medication, according to Kevin Lockette, author of Move It! An Exercise and Movement Guide for People with Parkinson's Disease and many others is one of the best things that you can do to counteract the negative physical effects of PD.

Inspired by working with people with Parkinson's Disease (PD), Lockette, who is a physical therapist, decided to launch a book and video that would incorporate many of his own methods he has used in his classes and PD support groups that have made a profound difference in the daily lives of the participants. With Move It! An Exercise and Movement Guide for People with Parkinson's Disease and its companion video, Lockette exposes to his readers many non-conventional exercises and techniques that have been found to be quite helpful in aiding people with PD.

In the opening chapter, Dr. Melvin Yee briefly explains what is PD, its cause, demographics, diagnosis, cardinal physical symptoms, and medications. With these explanations in mind, the reader is now prepared to learn the techniques and exercises that Lockette goes onto share with his readers with the objective of assisting the PD patient in combating and/or staving off the various physical symptoms that have been described.

Next, the book launches into an analysis of various movement challenges and what strategies can be employed to contend and battle back against them. Included are tips as to how to deal with "freezing episodes." Readers are counseled to move consciously and that with patience in order to maintain safe, effective mobility, and stave off or delay many of the physical effects that are prevalent with patients with PD. Fundamental strategies focus on four important behavioral patterns that should be practiced, visualization, planning, sequence (one step at a time) and the completion. Considerable ink is devoted to improving walking, bed mobility, standing, and balance.

A complete chapter is devoted to assistive devices such as canes, walkers, and commercially specialty devices. Lockette does not endorse any one product but only presents some of the options that are available. This is followed by falls and how to minimize them, how to fall, and what can you do once you find yourself on the floor. A very interesting chapter is one dealing with adaptive devices that can make your life easier to deal with. Some of the devices include button aides, sock aides, bath reacher sponge, eating utensils, writing utensils, and meal preparation.

The remainder of the book devotes itself to a variety of invaluable exercises. And according to Lockette, focusing on posture and purposeful movement is the key to an effective exercise program. In fact, recent research has confirmed that exercise does have beneficial effects in patients with PD. What Lockette rightfully points out is that PD "works on a particular area in your brain but does not directly work on your muscles, so your muscles can still have the ability to maintain strength and flexibility if you train them." These chapters with their illustrations in conjunction with the accompanying video maintain a straight, no-nonsense tone throughout. Lockette has done an excellent job of laying out the information clearly and concisely. An added plus is the very useful appendix that is included of a home assessment checklist that lists problems and solutions such as unable to safely negotiate stairs and the various solutions as installing ramps, rails, etc.

Incidentally, I don't have PD, but I do have a poor posture and I found many of the exercises to be very beneficial. I have tried them at home and at the gym. They do work!

Norm Goldman, Publisher & Editor Bookpleasures ... Read more

Product Description
Parkinson's Disease (PD is a devastating degenerative central nervous system disorder that affects 1.5 million people in the US, with approximately 60,000 new cases diagnosed each year. It affects both men and women equally, and while the conidition usually develops after the age of 65, 15% of those diagnosed are under age 50. The disease significantly impairs motor skills and speech, and is chracterized by muscle rigidity, tremor, slowed physical movement, and difficulty with balance, as well as cognitive dysfunction and language problems. It is both chronic and progressive, and is one of the most commonly seen neurological problems in primary care settings.

The last five years have seen a substantial expansion of the therapeutic armamentarium for managing PD. There has also been an increase in the recognitino of the importance of non-motor manifestations of PD. This explosion of knowledge has raised the complexity of therapeutic decisions faced by the physicians treating PD. In addition, the prevalence of PD is increasing with the aging of the population. While there have been a number of publications addressing different aspects of PD treatment in the neurological literature, there is a dearth of material on PD designed for internists and primary care physicians, whoare often the first to see patients presenting symptons of PD. Therefore, this concise, clinically focused volume will serve as a valuable resource tailored to the specific needs of internists and primary care physicians.

Part of the Oxford American Neurology Library, this highly practical guide covers current approaches and new developments in the diagnosis, treatment, and management of PD, including both early PD and advanced PD. The book also offers in-depth coverage of the non-motor manifestations of PD, with which the internal medicine audience is less familiar. It als addresses the role of imaging studies in the diagnosis, differential diagnosis, and monitoring of the progression of PD. In addition to providing up-to-date information on pharmacological therapies for PD, the book also describes the surgical management of the disease, as well as non-pharmacological treatment options. It also covers new data on the genetic causes of PD. ... Read more

Product Description
More than 1,000,000 people in the United States are living, struggling, and dying with Parkinson's Disease 50,000 more are diagnosed in this country every year.A personal journal of one family's struggle with the progression of Parkinson's Disease. One can understand the medicine and the treatment for this devasting disease, but nothing prepares one for living & dying with Parkinson's; this journal takes the reader by the hand as this disease takes control of one man's life.Proceeds donated to The Johns Hopkins Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders Center ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A thank-you to the author
I want to thank the author. I'm going through exactly what she experienced and it is so good to know that I'm not alone. My husband and I have been great friends but this awful time is often overwhelming. ... Read more

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A comprehensive review of current tactics in the therapeutic management of Parkinson’s disease, this volume offers summaries of salient research findings as well as contemporary attitudes and practical advice from field specialists. The well-timed Third Edition is expanded and topically reorganized to register trends and progress in anti-parkinsonian medications, ablative surgical options, deep brain stimulation, nonmotor symptom treatments, nonmedical strategies, and investigational therapies. ... Read more

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This volume focuses on the interplay of mind and motion - the bidirectional link between thought and action. In particular, it investigates the implications that this coupling has for decision making. How do we anticipate the consequences of choices and how is the brain able to represent these choice options and their potential consequences? How are different options evaluated and how is a preferred option selected and implemented? This volume addresses these questions not only through an extensive body of knowledge consisting of individual chapters by international experts, but also through integrative group reports that pave a runway into the future. The understanding of how people make decisions is of common interest to experts working in fields such as psychology, economics, movement science, cognitive neuroscience, neuroinformatics, robotics, and sport science. So far, however, it has mainly been advanced in isolation within distinct research disciplines; in contrast, this book results from a deliberate assembly of multidisciplinary teams. It offers intense, focused, and genuine interdisciplinary perspective.It conveys state-of-the-art and outlines future research directions on the hot topic of Mind and Motion (or embodied cognition). It includes contributions from psychologists, neuroscientists, movement scientists, economists, and others. ... Read more

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From the Author: I was a relatively young 53 years old when I was diagnosed with Parkinsons disease in February1992. My initial symptoms included numbness in myhands and legs, a moderate limp, general form ofbody rigidity, and highly illegible handwriting.My original thought was I wanted to rid myself ofthese conditions to improve my golf game. As ageneral optimist, I never envisioned that Isuffered from a permanently degenerative situation. Itwas quite a shock for me, after a physical examand an MRI of my brain, to hear my neurologist, Dr.Melvin Vigman, officially label me as aParkinsonian. Suddenly, I felt a lot older than 53 as Icompared myself with the older residents of myin-laws nursing home. I too was destined to be azombie-like creature. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

An informative and "reader friendly" guide through the pain and struggle of dealing with Parkinson's disease
Pills, Bills, And Parkinson's Disease: Coping With The On-Off Syndrome by Paul A. Luscombe is an informative and "reader friendly" guide through the pain and struggle of dealing with Parkinson's disease. Insightfully engaging the reader in the stories from his own past, through his discovery, understanding, and progression through his own diagnoses and his undesired adaptation to his very active life, Paul Luscombe presents Pills, Bills, And Parkinson's Disease as a kind of helping hand for those who are in the midst of their own difficulties in facing their Parkinson's diagnoses. Pills, Bills, And Parkinson's Disease is very strongly recommended reading, most especially to readers with a diagnosis of Parkinson's Disease for themselves or a loved one.
... Read more

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Product Description
This ‘easy-to-follow’ anthology brings together leading international medical and healthcare specialists who work with different aspects of Parkinson’s Disease. It presents an integrated, team-based approach to the best possible management of people with Parkinson’s disease, aiming to optimise function and wellbeing.Those with the illness, their caregivers, as well as physicians and healthcare professionals, are empowered to make educated, scientifically-based choices about the latest supportive therapies.This encyclopaedic work presents individual essays covering the Use of Drugs, Surgical Neurology, Anaesthesia, Nutritional Therapy, Bowel and Muscle Function, Self-esteem, Stress Control, Sexuality, Pregnancy, Acupuncture, Electromagnetic Therapy, Carer’s Needs as well as many other areas of interest. Reviews“This volume contains a wealth of theoretical and practical knowledge which will be of benefit to all those in the world of Parkinson’s Disease”Professor Leslie Findley, Medical Adviser to the European Parkinson’s Disease Association, UK“The book is fabulous! The book ‘Parkinson’s Disease – The Way Forward!’ is an exciting one because it really looks at Parkinson’s from an entire life perspective”Jo Rosen, President, Parkinson’s Resource Organisation, USA “I have read the whole book and found it to be a super help for both doctors and healthcare professionals, patients and carers.Honestly, I have not read such a detailed and multi-disciplinary book, so far. It is truly the way forward!”Dr Irena Rektorová, Assistant Professor of Neurology, Brno University, Czech Republic ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

What a Stunning Book!
I sat down and read it through completely, and was amazed at the knowledge, and well researched detail that you have presented.Notable, are the medical and technical knowledge together with the care and real concern for Parkinson's sufferers, which is shown by compassionate practitioners in many fields.

This has to be the definitive book on this subject, giving hope, support and the tools with which to live as creatively and with as much dignity as possible.I do not just wish you well with it's publication, but am lost in admiration!"

The Essential User-Friendly Resource Book
This resource book is an essential user-friendly compendium and tool-kit. By following the various practical strategies described patients with PD can be helped and encouraged to improve their quality of life, function as best as they are able, reduce symptoms and minimise the distressing side-effects of drugs.

Book with a Marked Advantage
This may not be as headline-grabbing or sensationalist as foetal grafts or human cloning, but has the advantage of markedly improving the lives of those with this unfrotunate illness.

THE MOST HELPFUL BROADLY-BASED BOOK OF ITS KIND
I have read the whole book, which I found a super help for both Doctors and Healthcare Professionals as well as for Patients and Carers. Honestly I haven't read such a detailed andmultidisciplinary book so far. Eminent medical and allied healthcare professionals have contributed to the information in the book and all statements are backed up by scientific references.

This is just a brief overview of how I see the whole book which is modern, comprehensive, practical and I think it really is "The way forward!"

There are all the possible medical chapters involved including diagnosis, the difference between young and older onset, treatment (very comprehensive and good).

I find it wonderful that all the chapters are also translated into non-medical language in addition to medical text, with practical aspects given for and by Patients, Carers, Nurse Specialists, etc.

All possible Tests are explained including PET and SPECT and other (Biochemical) laboratory tests.

Surgery is written in the best multidisciplinary and complex way I have ever read. Super!

Even Anaesthesiology and Podiatric Surgery are involved.

I very much enjoyed how much stress and volume is given to Nutrition, which even included recipes and dietary recommendations for healthy food, gaining or losing weight, overcoming problems with chewing, swallowing, etc. I didn't know about Glutathione, which is mentioned, with the references too.

A lot of space is given to sexual life in PD. This is great and provides a lot of information, which is very useful and new for me too.

Also Traditional Chinese Medicine aspects are mentioned including Acupuncture. I found this interesting since it is not my field and I appreciate it.

Depression and other psychiatric problems are explained and ways for management provided, not only medically but also from the psychologist's point of view.

All the health care professionals including PD Nurse Specialist, Physiotherapist, Speech and Occupational Therapist, etc. have their brief articles. Their role is explained and the need for them pointed out. Aspects such as communication are nicely written.

Other problems such as Osteopathy and problems that occur especially in Older People are mentioned, which is very useful.

A lot of Exercise is described with pictures, which is very practical.

Even Patients' and Carers' Points of View are not omitted!

To repeat what I said before - this is just a brief overview of how I see the whole book which is modern, comprehensive, practical and I think it really is "The way forward!" ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

What I didn't know
When my neurologist told me I had PD nine years ago, he didn't tell me all the was the disease could/would affect my life. The journey since has been a series of unpleasant discoveries. I wishI had tis book years ago so I could have foreseen what was coming. A MUSTfor PD patients and caregivers. ... Read more

Product Description
This study guide and workbook is designed to help students to understand the complex subject of pathophysiology through the use of test questions, case studies and page references. Each chapter relates to the major concepts presented in McCance's text which include the cell, mechanisms of self-defence, the reproduction system, the pulmonary system and the digestive system. ... Read more

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Parkinson's disease has long been perceived as a pure motor disorder, partly due to its initial description by James Parkinson, who suggested that "senses and intellect remain intact", and partly due to the fact that patients with PD did not survive long, before effective treatment became available. As the survival time of patients with Parkinson's disease has substantially increased due to modern treatment, it has become apparent that cognitive deficits and dementia are also frequent features, especially in elderly patients. With the progression of the disease and age, dementia develops in a substantial number of patients and constitutes a major therapeutic challenge. Dementia has thus increasingly been the focus of research and practice in recent years and a large body of knowledge has been accumulated. Despite these developments there has been no single volume dedicated to this topic.
This book provides an extensive overview of the current status of knowledge pertaining to cognitive impairment and dementia associated with Parkinson's disease, intended as a reference book for general neurologists, neurology residents and also those with a special interest in movement disorders. In this edited volume experts in the field describe in detail all aspects of cognitive impairment and dementia in Parkinson's disease, including epidemiology, spectrum of clinical features, pathology, neurochemistry and genetics, findings in auxiliary investigations, relation to other neurodegenerative disorders, diagnostic process and management, and rounded up by discussion of future research directions and expectations. The text is complemented and enriched with tables, figures and heavily referenced to encompass all relevant literature. ... Read more

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The Race to Cure Parkinson’s Disease is a tale of scientists striving to cure a mysterious brain disease affecting millions of people, and the fervent campaign of a few religious leaders to block a path to that cure. The book lays out in layman’s fashion the four most promising tracks to a cure for Parkinson’s disease and provides insights into the progress and obstacles of each track. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

A must read!
Steven A. Zecola has written a must read book that will open your eyes and hopefully instigate very important response. How many books have you read lately that can save lives? In my case, just one, and it is titled, "The Race to Cure Parkinson's Disease: How Science Will Defeat Evangelism." Let us all hope so.

This book is not just for those who are affected in some way by Parkinson's, but in truth it is for every American who cares if our government, our sciences, our economy, and our health is being directed by those who wish to control it all, control us all, through their narrow-minded evangelism. The book explains clearly what Parkinson's is, what it does, and the hopes and strides for a cure. It also describes the medical research that is underway, is possible but is being restricted, and the other avenues being taken. The book examines the evangelical onslaught against embryonic stem cell research, brings up the past and the way these same people protested against invitro fertilization - something that has become very mainstream, and most importantly, looks at the influence of evangelicals on our political society. Just who is running the government anyway? Who is controlling your mind?

So many strides towards cures have been made, but it is like the old adage of one step forward and two steps back. If the people who stand in the way would just step aside, we would be walking towards the cure of so many diseases in no time at all. Steven Zecola brings all of the pertinent information to his readers, from history to potential cures, research and studies to public opinion on evolution. Who is supposed to be in charge of what science can achieve? Why should one group of people with one group of beliefs be able to control what affects the world? It shouldn't.

The book is written in a straightforward, down to earth voice. This is not a scientific textbook; it is a manuscript about the truth of what is happening all around us. If you want to know the truth, use your voice as a world citizen, be informed, and read this book. I've never wanted to shake the hand of an author more in my life.

Excellent Layman's Review of State of Parkinson's Research
Great book, easy to read, lively style. Very thought provoking survey of the dilemma of making medical progress and the desires of some extremist zealots to prevent that progress.A must read for anyone who has Parkinsons, knows someone with Parkinson's, or is concerned about whether the US will be left behind in the groundbreaking stem cell research field because of parochial extremist political views. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (28)

Aging: the good, bad and ugly
Excellent story of health decline from a physician who became "the patient". Very informative of the disease process and how it impacts the patient.

Cathartic
Reading "Life in the Balance" was a therapeutic, actually cathartic, experience.My spouse has Parkinson's and, for the first time, I was able to partially understand what he is experiencing. It demonstrated so many of the unknowns and allowed me to validate my own feelings.I thank Dr. Graboys for having the courage to pen his thoughts in such a meaningful way.

Life in the Balance
This was an informative and easy read.I read it in one session.I bought 3 more and gave to caregivers of people with this problem and gave one to my doctor. My husband has this illness and I am thinking of asking him to read the book.It is for once a book with some positive attitude and full of helps.

A moving story
Dr. Thomas Graboys was a distinguished heart doctor who seemed to have it all. He had lost his first wife to cancer but was newly married to a wonderful, smart, sexy woman and he was at the top of his profession. Then he was struck by an aggressive form of Parkinson's Disease called Lewy body disease that not only attacked his body but also his mind.

I have a personal interest in this book. Someone I love deeply has been fighting Parkinson's for years, though thankfully not the same kind that struck Graboys. Her mind is still intact. He is suffering from creeping dementia.

Graboys is painfully honest in this book. He talks about how he tried for months to continue his work, battling through exhaustion and mental lapses, until he was forced to admit he could not carry on. Being a doctor defined him -- and now it is gone.

He also discusses his attempts to preserve a form of physical intimacy with his wife and the pain of watching a virile, physically fit body decay along with his sexuality.

Graboys also frankly speaks about his marriage. He was already experiencing early symptoms of the disease when he married his wife Vicki -- but he was in a state of deep denial. She thought she was marrying a capable, virile man. Instead, she got an invalid who needs virtual around-the-clock care. This "original sin" placed a tremendous burden on the marriage.

The most significant service this book performs is to restore the dignity of a man who has lost so much. Graboys teaches us that a person should not be defined by his sickness. His determination to fight every step of the way against his inevitable decline is inspiring.

The weakest part of the book are the segments contributed by the author's children, step-children and in-laws. They are repetitive and seemed designed to pad out the book. They weaken the overall message by diluting the force of the author's own words.

Experiencing Parkinson's Dementia with Lewy Bodies
This is a well written book giving a window into what it is truly like to have Parkinson's with Dementia. Hearing the experience of a physician with the disorder as well as personal accounts from all of his family members is incredibly informative in understanding what a loved one is dealing with. ... Read more

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Diseases have a history, and understanding that history helps us understand how best to treat and control disease today. Today's students are confronted with a panoply of often-frightening illnesses and afflictions - the Biography of Diseases series provides students with the information that they need to understand the origin of various maladies, how they impact contemporary society, and how doctors and researchers from around the world are fighting to devise treatments to alleviate or cure these diseases. This volume, Parkinson's Disease, covers the history and life story of the neuromuscular disease that is famous for the numerous celebrities who have suffered from the disease - Janet Reno, Michael J. Fox, Pope John Paul II. The volume covers diagnosis, treatment, complications, impact on life and family, and research into the disease.

Customer Reviews (1)

Useful resource
Part of the "Biographies of Disease" series, Parkinson's Disease is a straightforward presentation of what modern science and medicine has to tell us about the history, symptoms, causes, treatments, and natural course of Parkinson's Disease. Written in plain terms for readers of all backgrounds, Parkinson's Disease includes case study stories and thoughtful discussions of how cases of Parkinson's Disease affect the family as a whole. A list of useful resources, a glossary, and an index round out this educational text especially recommended for public and college libraries, medical students, and anyone who needs accurate, up-to-date information about this debilitating affliction. Highly recommended.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch
... Read more

Product Description
Being diagnosed with Parkinsons disease can be distressing, and adjusting to the effects of the disease can be difficult. The second edition of Parkinsons Disease: 300 Tips for Making Life Easier will help readers lead a remarkably unlimited life. Filled with tips, techniques, and shortcuts readers will learn basic lessons for conserving time and energy, enabling them to do more of the things they want to do. Throughout the book, specially marked tips are provided for those who provide care and support for people with this disease. By adapting their routine, making their homes more accessible, and keeping a positive outlook, readers will have the power to take control of their life and rise above the challenges of PD. ... Read more

Product Description
Parkinson's Disease (PD) is a progressive, neurodegenerative disorder with the cardinal symptons of bradykinesia, rigidity and tremor, as well as a postural inability in the later stages of the disease. It has been estimated that over 1,000,000 people in the United States are affected by PD with approximately 50,000-60,000 new cases diagnosed each year. The average age of PD onset is 60 years, although persons can onset much later and approximately 4-10% onset prior to the age of 40. The primary neurochemical change in PD is a loss of dopamine in the substantia niger, although it is increasingly recognized that additional neurotransmitters and brain areas are involved. The cause of PD is unknown, and there is currently no cure available.

The treatment of PD can be challenging and treatment of early PD can be complex with choice of initial therapy, as well as timing the initiation of therapy. Although there are currently no treatments approved to stop or slow the progression of PD, this is an area of active research, as it is estimated that approximately 60-80% of dopamine neurons are lost by the time of diagnosis. There are several symptomatic treatments available for all stages of PD, including monoamine oxidase type B (MAO-B) inhibitors, dopamine agonists, levodopa, and less commonly, anticholinergics and amantadine. The treatment regimen in the early stage needs to be individualized based on the disease characteristics and life situation of each patient. The goal of therapy in early PD is to identify a treatment strategy to control the parkinsonian symptons, such as motor fluctuations and dyskinesia, without causing adverse events. ... Read more