Expert clinicians and basic scientists with a special interest in Parkinson's disease review the current state of science and clinical therapeutics of the disease. Therefore these articles represent an authorative review of the current state of knowledge regarding preclinical course and symptomatology, subtypes with their impact on the pathology, genetic alterations, novel mechanisms of neuronal cell death, diagnostic tools and old and novel therapeutic approaches with respect to neuroprotection and neuroregeneration in Parkinson's disease. Particular emphasis has been placed on a novel antiparkinsonian drug called budipine with various modes of action also influencing altered non dopaminergic systems in Parkinson's disease. It is evident, that many questions on the cause, course and treatment of Parkinson's disease are still unanswered and therefore the ideal way to treat a parkinsonian patient remains to be defined.

Inhalt

New aspects of pathology in Parkinson's disease with concomitant incipient Alzheimer's disease.- New horizons in molecular mechanisms underlying Parkinson's disease and in our understanding of the neuroprotective effects of selegiline.- Early diagnosis in Parkinson's disease - limitation of biochemical markers and instrumental methods.- The pharmacology of B-type selective monoamine oxidase inhibitors; milestones in (−)-deprenyl research.- (−)-Deprenyl reduces neuronal apoptosis and facilitates neuronal outgrowth by altering protein synthesis without inhibiting monoamine oxidase.- Are metabolites of l-deprenyl (selegiline) useful or harmful? Indications from preclinical research.- Deprenyl in the treatment of Parkinson's disease: clinical effects and speculations on mechanism of action.- 8The clinical potential of Deprenyl in neurologic and psychiatric disorders.- Pharmacology and neuroprotective properties of rasagiline.- Potential of neurotrophic factors in therapy of Parkinson's disease.