Affiliation:
1. Division of Neurology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
Abstract
SUMMARY Parkinson’s disease (PD) is one of the most frequently encountered neurodegenerative disorders in terms of worldwide prevalence. Although medications are typically effective at treating motor symptoms in early to moderately advanced stages, the efficacy of these agents often wanes as the disease progresses. With long-term pharmacologic therapy, many PD patients will also experience motor fluctuations, dyskinesias and unpredictable wearing off of the therapeutic benefit. Deep brain stimulation, the preferred surgical treatment for PD, often improves many of these complications. New surgical options are currently under clinical investigation for advanced PD patients including gene and cell-based therapies.