Recent Advances in Understanding and Treating Parkinson’s Disease

Abstract

Tremor, bradykinesia, rigidity, and postural instability are some of the motor symptoms that are associated with Parkinson's disease (PD), which is a neurodegenerative ailment that is becoming increasingly common. This review provides a summary of current developments in Parkinson's disease (PD) research, with a particular emphasis on the disease's pathophysiology, diagnostic tools, and treatment possibilities. Alpha-synuclein aggregation into Lewy bodies is a defining pathogenic feature of Parkinson's disease (PD), which is primarily caused by the gradual death of dopaminergic neurones in the substantia nigra. Although idiopathic Parkinson's disease accounts for the vast majority of cases, familial variants of the condition are caused by genetic mutations in SNCA, LRRK2, PARK7, PINK1, and PRKN. These mutations provide insights into the molecular pathways that underlie the disease. Improved imaging techniques, such as positron emission tomography (PET) and single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), as well as the investigation of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and blood-based biomarkers, are examples of the diagnostic breakthroughs that have been made. Therapeutic techniques have developed over time, with pharmacological treatments such as levodopa and dopamine agonists playing significant roles. These treatments are supplemented by non-pharmacological options such as deep brain stimulation (DBS). Recent advances in medicine, such as gene therapy and stem cell therapy, have the potential to bring about further advances in the future. In this review, the most important findings are summarised, trends are identified, and the implications of recent research for the management of Parkinson's disease are discussed respectively.