Old drug may provide 'off' time relief for people with advanced Parkinson's disease

New research provides evidence that an old drug may provide relief for people with advanced Parkinson's, according to a study released today that will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology's 69th Annual Meeting in Boston, April 22 to 28, 2017.

When it comes to the treatment of Parkinson's disease, the oral drug levodopa has long been considered the gold standard, improving quality of life and longevity. But as the disease progresses, the effects of the medication can partially wear off more quickly after each dose, leaving people to experience "off" time, which are periods of immobility related to temporary unresponsiveness to medication. Parkinson's symptoms, such as slowness and muscle rigidity, often make movement difficult.

"If a person with Parkinson's disease can reduce their 'off' times, that can have a great impact on their everyday life," said study author Dr Regina Katzenschlager, of the Danube Hospital, affiliated with the Medical University of Vienna, Austria, adding: "In some patients in the trial, the insecurity of unpredictable periods of incapacity was completely alleviated."