Health

New Parkinson's Disease Treatment Reduces Body Jerky Movements

March 1, 2001 – Senior Softball-USA

ROCHESTER, New York ˆ A new treatment for Parkinson's Disease significantly reduces one of the most common effects of the disease ˆ jerky head and limb movements ˆ according to a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

The new drug, MIRAPEX, cut the incidence of these motor effects by about 23 percent compared with the standard drug treatment with levodopa, according to the study.

"Two years after beginning treatment with MIRAPEX, patients were well controlled and had significantly fewer episodes of wearing off and dyskinsea ˆ complications that typically accompany the progression of Parkinson's Disease and the long-term use of levodopa," said Dr. Karl Kieburtz of the University of Rochester School of Medicine.

Researchers say the drug may help patients prolong normal activities