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Parkinson disease
Parkinson's disease is a movement disorder that develops when nerve cells in the brain do not make enough dopamine.
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What is Parkinson's disease?
Dopamine is a chemical messenger that helps the brain control movement. In Parkinson's disease, nerve cells in the brain stop making enough of it. The disease usually starts around the age of 60, though it can begin earlier, and it is more common in men than in women. Some cases are genetic, but most do not seem to run in families. Contact with certain chemicals in the environment may play a part.
What are the signs?
Symptoms start slowly, often on one side of the body, and later affect both sides. They include:
- shaking (tremor) of the hands, arms, legs, jaw or face;
- stiffness of the arms, legs and body;
- slow movement;
- poor balance and coordination.
Over time, walking, talking and everyday tasks can become harder. Some people also have depression, sleep problems, or trouble chewing and swallowing.
How is it treated today?
There is no specific test for Parkinson's: doctors diagnose it from the person's medical history and a neurological examination. Medicines can ease symptoms, sometimes dramatically. In severe cases, surgery or deep brain stimulation may help. In deep brain stimulation, thin wires (electrodes) are placed in the brain and send electrical pulses to the areas that control movement.
Is there a cure?
Not yet. There is no cure for Parkinson's disease. Today's treatments help to manage the symptoms.
Machine summary of published research · sources and dates below · 2026-11-06
Written from: MedlinePlus: Parkinson's Disease (2025-09-29) · read on 2026-11-06
- Cure
- Treatable, not yet curableSource: NICEWhat these labels meanCurable in many cases – treatment can remove the disease completely for many patients.Treatable, not yet curable – treatment can slow the disease and extend life, but it cannot remove it completely yet.This pageNo cure yet – there is no treatment yet that stops the disease; care focuses on symptoms.
- Standard treatment
- Levodopa or other dopamine medicinesSource: NICE
Cure status
- Ambroxol Hydrochloride (420mg)Phase 3 · NCT05778617
- apomorphine infusionPhase 3 · NCT02339064
- AtomoxetinePhase 3 · NCT07316296
- bemdaneprocelPhase 3 · NCT06944522
- CVN424Phase 3 · NCT06553027
- Furosemide InjectionPhase 3 · NCT04706910
- Lactobacillus acidophilus 10 billion colony forming unit (CFU) and prebiotic fibersPhase 3 · NCT05576818
- LECIG (levodopa, carbidopa, entacapone intestinal gel)Phase 3 · NCT07151378
- MetforminPhase 3 · NCT07055958 · NCT07229651
- ND0612 Solution for SC infusionPhase 3 · NCT04006210
- ONO-2808Phase 3 · NCT07825402
- Oral IR-LD/CDPhase 3 · NCT04006210
- PrasinezumabPhase 3 · NCT07174310 · NCT07055087 · NCT04777331
- SafinamidePhase 3 · NCT07761936
- TelmisartanPhase 3 · NCT07207057
- Terazosin (Hytrin)Phase 3 · NCT07207057
- TJ0113Phase 3 · NCT07741045
- Transcranial Direct Current StimulationPhase 3 · NCT07395531
- BHV-8000Phase 2/3 · NCT06976268
- buntanetap/posiphenPhase 2/3 · NCT07284784
- FexofenadinePhase 2/3 · NCT06785298
- Levodopa CarbidopaPhase 2/3 · NCT07229664 · NCT07229651 · NCT07246278
- Levodopa/carbidopaPhase 2/3 · NCT06785298
- VG081821ACPhase 2/3 · NCT07725562
- VinpocetinePhase 2/3 · NCT07229664
- 120 milligrams of ENERGI-F705 TabletsPhase 2 · NCT07647614
- 60 milligrams of ENERGI-F705 TabletsPhase 2 · NCT07647614
- AAV2-GDNF gene therapyPhase 2 · NCT06285643
- AB-1005Phase 2 · NCT07566429 · NCT07215403
- ACI-7104.056 at Dose APhase 2 · NCT06015841
Closest to patients
- Metformin in Parkinson DiseasePhase 2/3 trial: Levodopa Carbidopa, MetforminTanta university · Tanta, EgyptPhase 2/3Results expected 2026
- Vinpocetine in Patients With Parkinsonian DiseasePhase 2/3 trial: Levodopa Carbidopa, VinpocetineTanta Unuversity · Tanta, EgyptPhase 2/3Results expected 2026
- Fexofenadine as Adjuvant Therapy in Parkinson DiseasePhase 2/3 trial: Levodopa/carbidopa, FexofenadineTanta university · Tanta, EgyptPhase 2/3Results expected 2026
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Looking after someone is work too. These organisations help carers, and the list further down this page shows helplines by country.
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A doctor can share information and a relative can act only with the patient's consent or a legal authority. It is easier to arrange this early.
- Hungary: patient rights representatives (Integrált Jogvédelmi Szolgálat)
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New and changed trials of the last 30 days, without an account and without tracking.
RSS feedCalendar reminderPublication
Squalamine prevents motor and non-motor symptoms in the paraquat and lectin rat model of the body-first subtype of Parkinson's disease.
Squalamine prevents motor and non-motor symptoms in the paraquat and lectin rat model of the body-first subtype of Parkinson's disease.
Journal of Parkinson's disease
PubMed · PMID 42993635Preprint
The Parkinson's disease-associated A53E mutation decreases alpha-synuclein aggregation and phosphorylation in vivo.
The Parkinson's disease-associated A53E mutation decreases alpha-synuclein aggregation and phosphorylation in vivo.
bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology
PubMed · PMID 42990431Preprint
Parkinson's disease genetic risk converges on Lewy body pathology-associated microglial states.
Parkinson's disease genetic risk converges on Lewy body pathology-associated microglial states.
medRxiv : the preprint server for health sciences
PubMed · PMID 42990666Publication
Dissociable noradrenergic and cholinergic contributions to cognitive function in early Parkinson's disease: A free-water imaging study.
Dissociable noradrenergic and cholinergic contributions to cognitive function in early Parkinson's disease: A free-water imaging study.
Parkinsonism & related disorders
PubMed · PMID 42994248Observational study
Cause, Situation, and Impact of Nonaccidental Falls in Persons with Idiopathic Parkinson's Disease - A Hospital-based Patient-Perceived Observational Study.
Cause, Situation, and Impact of Nonaccidental Falls in Persons with Idiopathic Parkinson's Disease - A Hospital-based Patient-Perceived Observational Study.
Indian journal of public health
PubMed · PMID 42993596
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Many trials look specifically for people who have already had treatment. Registries mark these with words like "previously treated", "refractory" or "relapsed". The trial team decides who can take part.
What a phase 1 trial is for
A phase 1 trial mainly tests whether a new medicine is safe and which dose can be given. It is not built to show that the medicine works.
Compassionate use
Some medicines not yet approved can be given outside a trial when there is no other option. This does not exist for every medicine or in every country. Your doctor makes the request, and the authority or the manufacturer decides.
- EU: European Medicines Agency
- Hungary: OGYÉI
- Germany: BfArM
- Austria: BASG
- United Kingdom: Early Access to Medicines (MHRA)
A second opinion
Asking for a second opinion is normal and does not mean you distrust your doctor. Take your results and a list of your treatments with you. For rare diseases, your doctor can also ask a European Reference Network.
Palliative care
This is care for symptoms and quality of life, and you can have it alongside other treatment. It does not mean anyone has given up on you.
Before you pay
In this situation many people receive offers of paid treatment. Go through this list before you pay for anything.
If this feels too heavy right now
You can talk to someone. In Hungary and in the UK, 116 123 is a free line for emotional support, day and night. The list on this page shows helplines in other countries.
Not medical advice. Talk to your care team before you change anything in your treatment.
Organisations that can help
Helplines, patient groups and support services for you and your family.
Select your country to see the organisations there, starting with the ones closest to you.
Umbrella organisations (they connect national groups)
European Federation of Neurological Associations (EFNA)
Umbrella of 21 pan-European neurology patient groups; map of European neurology patient organisations.
Visit site: European Federation of Neurological Associations (EFNA)
General support
For anyone who is ill, whatever the disease: patients' rights and legal aid, crisis lines, hospice and palliative care, care in another EU country, and patient organisations' umbrella bodies.
International
European Patients' Forum (EPF)
Umbrella of European patient organisations and national patient coalitions.
Visit site: European Patients' Forum (EPF)
International Alliance of Patients' Organizations
Global alliance of patient organisations of all diseases, promoting patient-centred healthcare.
Visit site: International Alliance of Patients' Organizations
Frontlight is not affiliated with these organisations; we list them because they help.
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Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique
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Capital Medical University
Beijing, China
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University of Toronto
Toronto, Canada
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UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology
London, United Kingdom
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McGill University
Montreal, Canada
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University of Florida
Gainesville, United States
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University of Oxford
Oxford, United Kingdom
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German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases
Bonn, Germany
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Shanghai Jiao Tong University
Shanghai, China
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