Mechanism of Parkinson's Disease (PD) and New/Future Drug Therapies

Dear Colleagues,

Parkinson's disease (PD) is one of the most common neurodegenerative disorders and is associated with motor symptoms including bradykinesia, resting tremor, rigidity, and postural instability at later stages, as well as various non-motor complications such as cognitive impairment，sleep disorders，pain and sensory disturbances. PD has a major impact on the quality of life.

Previously, diagnostic work was purely clinical, with the famous “physician’s recognition just by gazing”. Today however, imaging techniques are available, as well as extensive laboratory testing. If “Parkinson’s” is considered only from the aspect of dopamine insufficiency, the situation is over-simplified, monomaniacal, and becomes bogged down. Therefore, we intend to highlight the present state of the art in PD, together with its very real deficits in the hope of developing future novel approaches. We will be targeting root cause analysis, diagnostics, and in particular differential diagnosis.

Drug therapy has focused on levodopa since the introduction of this medication. However, for the past two decades we have only managed to refine modifications and are yet to develop completely new therapeutic approaches. Thus, we are merely treading water, or going around in circles. This is not to say that recent launches have been bad, and there is no question that therapy for PD has improved. However, there has not been a major, essential breakthrough. New approaches are needed, as well as more participation. This is often suppressed by funding agencies, so that we remain too closely attached to safety in drug development that do not advance the field. Courageous approaches and implementation are needed. We wish to give this topic its due space in the present issue and invite you to submit your approaches here. We would like to see discussion of new developments that are already in the pipeline, as well as future developments and courageous approaches regarding the journey ahead.

The goal of this work directly impacts our future. Starting with clinical experiences, both positive and negative, we hope to improve our basic and clinical research so that progress can be made and the field does not get bogged down.

Prof. Dr. Wolfgang H. Jost 
Guest Editor

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