Progress in understanding and treating Parkinson's disease.

This review evaluates the long-term results of Levodopa therapy in Parkinson's disease upon quality of life, prolongation of survival and excess mortality. It also focuses on recent and new therapeutic approaches: Levodopa in combindation with a Dopa-decarboxylase inhibitor or MAO-B inhibitor, dopamine agonists and an active tripeptide: L-prolyl-L-leucylglycine amide (MIF-I). It ends by looking at new avenues of etiological research in Parkinson's disease which may indicate specific accelerated ageing of catecholaminergic (pigmented) neuronal systems.