Sam, aged 65, is started on L-dopa for his Parkinson's disease (PD).He asks why this is necessary.You tell him:

Question

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The primary goal of L-dopa therapy is to replace depleted stores of dopamine in the brain. Parkinson's disease is associated with a loss of dopamine-producing neurons, and this can cause a range of motor symptoms. L-dopa is converted to dopamine in the brain and can help to alleviate symptoms such as tremors, rigidity, and bradykinesia. While L-dopa can provide significant symptomatic benefit, it is not considered neuroprotective, and other drugs may also be used to manage PD. However, at present, L-dopa is often the initial monotherapy drug of choice for PD.

Sam, Aged 65, Is Started on L-Dopa for His Parkinson's