Pharmacological Approaches

Several small-molecule pharmaceuticals are currently used to treat PD symptoms. Research efforts are aimed at developing new small molecules targeting implicated proteins and processes. Treating dopamine depletion has been a natural focus of therapeutic development, and therapies that increase dopaminergic activity in the brain are among the most efficacious for certain symptoms.  These can act either directly on the dopaminergic system or through modulation of synergistic neurotransmitter systems.

Other neurotransmitters involved in PD pathology and symptomatology that are targeted for PD therapeutics development include acetylcholine, glutamate, serotonin, and adenosine.