Clinical Studies/Clinical Trials
Clinical studies (or sometimes referred to as clinical trials)
are designed to test the effects of new treatments and therapies in
people. They are conducted by medical experts who recruit people to
participate in a particular study. Clinical studies are intended to
analyze the safety and effects of new treatments and therapies. Talk
to your healthcare professional for more information about
participating in a specific clinical study.
If you would like
to learn about studies that are being conducted by federal and
privately supported clinical research, click on the links below.
Here you will find more information about the purpose of the study,
who may participate, locations, and phone numbers for more details.
Always talk with your doctor about these or any other treatments
that you believe you would benefit from.
- PDtrials.org - PDtrials.org is the website of the PDtrials campaign, an initiative of the major Parkinson's patient voluntary groups to accelerate the development of new treatments for the disease.
- ClinicalTrials.gov - Clinicaltrials.gov provides regularly updated information about federally and privately supported clinical research in human volunteers.
Other Treatments
Surgical Treatments
For most people with Parkinson's disease, medications help maintain a good quality of life. As the disorder progresses, medications may no longer produce the desired effects or may cause significant side effects. At that point, surgical treatments may be considered. Talk with your physician about these neurosurgical options.- Deep brain stimulation
- Pallidotomy (this procedure is rarely done)
- Thalamotomy (this procedure is rarely done)
- Neurotransplantation (still an experimental treatment)
Speech and Occupational Therapy
Speech and occupational therapy are extremely successful to aid in day-to-day functioning. Ask your physician for a referral to someone who can help.Complementary Therapies
Some people with Parkinson's disease find that their lives are enhanced by non-medical therapies such as Tai' Chi, yoga, acupuncture, massage, music, and supplements such as CoQ10. Information about these therapies can be obtained by clicking here or from your healthcare providers.Medications
While there is no known cure for Parkinson's disease, medications can relieve or decrease symptoms. New medications are continually being developed, and you need to consult a physician who is knowledgeable about Parkinson's disease for information about the most recent medications available.Because symptoms vary greatly from person to person and change over time, an individualized approach is required to determine the types of medication, doses, and frequency that are most beneficial to each person at each stage of the disease. There are several types of medications that are used to treat the various symptoms of Parkinson's disease. Each type serves a specific purpose, and it is sometimes necessary to take several different medications in combination to get the greatest health benefit. They include:
- Dopamine Agonists - Dopamine agonists may be used alone or in combination with levodopa to reduce symptoms in the early stages of Parkinson's disease.
- Levodopa Medications - Levodopa is a medication used to control symptoms of Parkinson's disease and may be used at all stages of the disease.
- COMT Inhibitors - Catechol O-methyltransferase (COMT) inhibitors are used in combination with levodopa to treat people with Parkinson's disease. These inhibitors allow a larger amount of levodopa to reach the brain, which raises dopamine levels there.
- Anticholinergic Medications - An overview of medications that block nerve impulses (cholinergic nerve impulses) that help control the muscles of the arms, legs, and body.
- Selegiline - Selegiline is a selective monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) and may be used in the early stages of Parkinson's disease to treat very mild symptoms.
- Amantadine - For people with early Parkinson's disease, amantadine is more effective than anticholinergic agents at improving slow movement (akinesia or bradykinesia) and rigidity but less effective at improving tremors.
