Background
Parkinson disease is a progressive neurological disorder that mainly affects movement. Common symptoms include slowness of movement, stiffness, tremor, and problems with balance and walking. Over time, these symptoms can interfere with daily activities such as dressing, writing, and getting up from a chair.
Standard treatments often aim to restore dopamine signaling in the brain, because Parkinson disease is associated with loss of dopamine-producing neurons. Levodopa remains the most effective symptomatic treatment, but in some people with early disease, clinicians may also use dopamine agonists. These medications can help improve motor function, though some are linked to side effects such as nausea, sleepiness, hallucinations, or impulse-control problems.
