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

Post mortem studies in Parkinson's disease - is it possible to detect brain areas for specific symptoms?.- Pathogenesis and preclinical course of Parkinson's disease.- Clinical efficacy of budipine in Pakinson's disease.- Multiple mechanisms of action: the pharmacological profile of budipine.- Parkinson's disease: one disease entity or many?.- Parkinson's disease - a multifactorial neurodegenerative disorder.- Mechanism and consequences of nerve cell death in Parkinson's disease.- Function imaging of Parkinson's disease: is it possible to detect brain areas for specific symptoms?.- Multiple system atrophy.- Tremorlytic activity of budipine in Parkinson's disease.- Current management of motor fluctuations in patients with advanced Parkinson's disease treated chronically with levodopa.- Differentiation of dopamine agonists and their role in the treatment of Parkinson's disease.- Free radical scavengers: chemical concepts and clinical relevance.- Differential diagnosis of tremor.