Treatment of Parkinsons Disease Past Present and Future

The introduction of levodopa for the treatment of Parkinson's disease has no doubt been the most important therapeutic breakthrough for this disease. In conjunction with the anniversary of levodopa's development, the International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society is developing this theme into both a course and a journal themed issue.

The two-day course will address the history of levodopa in medical practice, including an evidence based medicine review and clinical trials of levodopa; the current uses of levodopa, with pros and cons of monotherapy and MAO inhibitors in treatment of early stage PD and discussions of advanced stage motor and non-motor treatments; and the future of PD, including disease modifying strategies, novel delivery options, and surgical treatments that include DBS and gene and cell based therapies. Both days will include small group breakout reviews of case studies.