Early therapy for parkinson’s disease

The management of patients with early Parkinson’s disease should now take into account the possibility that MAO-B inhibitors may provide neuroprotective therapy, that dopamine undergoes oxidative metabolism and has the potential to generate cytotoxic free radicals, and that the early employment of drugs which provide sustained central dopamine agonism may delay the development of adverse effects associated with chronic levodopa therapy. The aim of treatment for patients with early Parkinson’s disease is to utilize strategies designed to address these issues without compromising clinical control. These approaches are reviewed.