PARKINSON’S DISEASE

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33426, 7 January 1974, Page 8

PARKINSON’S DISEASE

Hopes raised in Britain I (N Z PA Reuter—Copyright) LONDON, January 6. ! British medical research workers may have succeeded ! in improving the treatment of Parkinson's disease, the cause of which is generally unknown. It affects the central nervous system, and about 60.000 people are afflicted with it in alone. The most promising drug ) for treating it is Levodopa. ’ which was welcomed as “a ' wonder drug” when it was first introduced, because it does help the victim of Parkinsonism, not only toi become more mobile, but to, < reduce the tremor and rigid- i ity that are the main symp- ' toms of the disease. But the large doses of i levodopa required often pro- 1 duce severe side-effects, in-' 1 eluding nausea and vomiting. Now, three doctors from the medical school of King’s College Hospital. London, r report in the medical maga- >; zine, the “Lancet,” that com- 1 bining levodopa with a drug * called carbidopa reduces ' these side-effects, and enhances the effectiveness of the treatment.