A review of emerging treatments for Parkinson’s disease by a University of South Florida neurologist highlights advances that may lead to more effective drugs and other therapies for the movement disorder marked by tremor, rigidity, slowness of movement, and impaired balance.

Dr. Robert Hauser, professor of neurology, molecular pharmacology and physiology, and director of the USF Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorders Center, recently published the article “Future Treatments for Parkinson’s Disease: Surfing the PD Pipeline” in the International Journal of Neuroscience.

Robert Hauser, MD

Dr. Hauser reviews antiparkinsonian treatments in clinical trials – emphasizing the need to delay or stop disease progression from an early stage. He provides the latest information about the cutting-edge treatments, including A2a antagonists, levodopa formulations, antidyskinesia medications and gene therapy.

“Some of these therapies will never reach the market, but others are likely to have a profound impact on future treatment and improve the lives of individuals with Parkinson’s disease,” Dr. Hauser said. “More sustained benefit throughout the day is close at hand, medications to counter involuntary movements (dyskinesia) are moving forward, and neuroprotective and neurorestorative therapies are on the horizon.”

The paper can be downloaded from the following link: http://informahealthcare.com/doi/pdf/10.3109/00207454.2011.620195