Parkinson's disease

Aetiology : unknown (genetic and environmental)

Prevalence : 2/1000 inhabitants (incidence increasing with age – 2% of the population older than 65 years old)

Main symptoms :

Treatments :

The aims of the treatments are to re-establish the dopaminergic transmission that is lacking in Parkinson disease and to get back the balance between the acetylcholinergic and dopaminergic systems.

Treatment of reference :

L-DOPA therapy : a symptomatic treatment

Main problems : need to be administrated out of the meals because of alimentary interactions which is very constraining for the patient, rapid therapeutic escapement with the necessity to take frequent doses (can result in 6 times per day!), progressive development of dyskinesia (involuntary movements), numerous drug interactions, causes frequent constipation which is very embarrassing for the patient.