Parkinson's disease is an incurable neurological illness caused by cell death in the brain. The area of the brain affected causes a reduction in dopamine production that leads to symptoms such as tremors, slow movement, stiffness, difficulty swallowing, postural imbalance and poor speech clarity. Treatments include medications to slow the disease progression and manage symptoms. Surgical procedures include deep brain stimulation and ablative surgery.
Levodopa
One of the characteristics of Parkinson's disease is a reduction in the amount of dopamine produced in the brain. The body changes levodopa into dopamine to replenish the loss. The University of Maryland Medical Center reports that the use of the medications levodapa and carbidopa, also known by the brand names Sinemet or Atamet, respectively, improve motor problems. Levodopa begins to lose its effectiveness after 4 to 5 years of continual usage, however.
Dopamine Agonists
Dopamine agonists such as bromocriptine, pergolide, pramipexole and ropinirole mimic the effects of dopamine. The Cleveland Clinic says that the use of dopamine agonists in conjunction with levodopa results in better symptom control.
MAO-B Inhibitors
The enzyme MAO-B (monoamine oxidase B) destroys dopamine in the brain. Preventing the action of MAO-B is the purpose of MAO-B inhibitors in the treatment of Parkinson's disease. The Parkinson's Disease Society reports one of the MAO-B inhibitors, selegiline, blocks MAO-B and increases the effectiveness of Sinemet. Rasagiline, the other MAO-B inhibitor, slows the loss of dopamine from the brain.
COMT Inhibitors
COMT inhibitors prolong the action of the levodopa medication by blocking the enzyme that prohibits levodopa from replenishing the dopamine in the brain. The Parkinson's Study Group reports that use of the COMT inhibitor entacapone enhances the effectiveness of Sinemet.
Antiviral
The Merck Manual, an online medical library, reports that sole use of the antiviral medication amantadine in the early stages of Parkinson's disease increases dopamine production. Its use as a supplement to levodopa in the later stages is effective in reducing the involuntary movements caused by levodopa.
Ablative Surgery
Ablative surgery is a procedure that uses a heated probe to destroy the cells in the brain affected by Parkinson's disease. Neurology Channel says that types of ablative surgery include pallidotomy and thalamotomy. Pallidotomy targets the part of the brain that controls voluntary movement. Thalamotomy attacks the cells that produce tremors.
Deep Brain Stimulation
Deep brain stimulation is a procedure used for the control of Parkinson's disease. It works much like a pacemaker inserted into the heart. The procedure requires placement of electrodes in the brain at the specific nerve center where the essential tremor originates. The National Institutes of Neurological Disorders and Stroke explains that the extension wire from the electrode attaches to a neurostimulator implanted under the skin near the collarbone. Electrical impulses from the neurostimulator travel to the brain and block the brain activity that causes Parkinson's disease symptoms.
