Parkinson disease
A long-term brain condition that slowly affects movement: shaking, stiffness and slowness.1 Medicines can ease the symptoms, sometimes a lot, but there is no cure yet.2 It usually starts around age 60, often on one side of the body first, and men get it more often than women.2 Losing the sense of smell can come several years before the other signs.3
Read more about Parkinson diseaseTrial-stage treatments and research studies you can join
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Where treatment stands
Where research stands now
On 2026-11-11, 947 trials and studies of Parkinson disease were open. On that day, 184 treatments were being tested in people, and 18 had reached phase 3, the last large trials before approval. From 2025-11-03 to 2026-11-11, articles reported treatment studies: 292 in people, 572 in animals and 91 in lab cells. A medicine with levodopa and carbidopa on the EU list for this disease was first approved in the EU in August 2026. Health pages say there is no cure yet, but treatments can ease the main symptoms.
Worldwide, we found 32 approved treatments for Parkinson disease and 11 that are being tested in people.
Approved: 32
Officially approved treatment for people in at least one country in the world.
Human testing stage: 11
Being tested in people. Many treatments at this stage are never approved.
Animal testing stage: not collected yet
Worked in animals, not yet tested in people. We have not collected this list for Parkinson disease yet.
Lab research stage: not collected yet
Early ideas, tested on cells. We have not collected this list for Parkinson disease yet.
OFF time: hours when symptoms come back because the medicine has worn off. ON time: hours when the medicine works well.
Movement score: a doctor's rating of movement problems. A drop means fewer problems.
Placebo: a dummy treatment without the medicine, used for comparison.
Phase 1, 2, 3: the steps of testing in people. Phase 1 checks safety, phase 3 is the last step before approval.
EU and US medicine agencies (EMA, FDA), the UK guideline NICE NG71, ClinicalTrials.gov and PubMed, checked on 10 November 2026.
We did not check national medicine registers or what health insurance pays for. UK approval years and most Japanese ones were not checked. Trial results are averages; your result can be different.
Not medical advice. Talk to your neurologist before you change any treatment.
Support organisations
Patient organisations and helplines in United States, for you and your family.
Parkinson disease organisations in United States
- American Parkinson Disease Association (APDA)
Chapter network and Information and Referral Centers, support group and exercise class finder, virtual events, newly-diagnosed resources.
- Parkinson & Movement Disorder Alliance (PMD Alliance)
US nonprofit for people affected by Parkinson's and other movement disorders, offering webinars, resource libraries, support communities and provider education.
- Parkinson's Foundation
Helpline in English and Spanish (Mon-Fri 9-19 ET), referrals to PD-trained professionals, support groups and exercise classes, information packets.
- The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research
The world's largest nonprofit funder of Parkinson's research; also offers patient information, research participation and community resources.
General support in United States
- 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
US national 24/7 free and confidential lifeline for anyone in suicidal crisis or emotional distress, reachable by calling or texting 988 or by chat.
- MedlinePlus
Free, easy-to-read health information service of the US National Library of Medicine (NIH) on diseases, conditions, drugs and wellness.
International organisations
Offer tissue or data
There are three ways to help research move faster.
Treatments approved outside the EU
Medicines for Parkinson disease approved in the US or Japan that are not approved in the EU.
Checked on 11 Nov 2026 in the official lists of the US (FDA), Japan (PMDA, approvals since April 2004) and the EU (EMA). 9 uncertain matches are left out.
Your health insurer may pay part of the cost, sometimes all of it. This depends on your insurer, your plan and the country, so always ask your insurer before you go. For planned care in the EU, the EEA and Switzerland, ask about form S2.
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About Parkinson disease
A long-term brain condition that slowly affects movement: shaking, stiffness and slowness.1 Medicines can ease the symptoms, sometimes a lot, but there is no cure yet.2 It usually starts around age 60, often on one side of the body first, and men get it more often than women.2 Losing the sense of smell can come several years before the other signs.3
What is it?
Parkinson's is a long-term condition in which parts of the brain are slowly damaged over many years.1 Nerve cells in one area of the brain are lost.1 These cells make dopamine, a chemical messenger the body needs to control movement, and many of the symptoms come from having less of it.1,2 Why the cells are lost is not clear; most experts think it is a mix of genes and things in the environment.1
Most people notice the first signs after 50, and some before 40.1 Men get it slightly more often than women.1 Sometimes it is genetic, but in most people it does not seem to run in the family.2
The first signs
The signs usually come on slowly and are mild at first.3 Not everyone gets all of them.3
- shaking that usually starts in a hand or arm, mostly when it is relaxed and resting;3
- slower movements, and a slow, shuffling walk with very small steps;3
- stiff muscles, which make it harder to move and to show expressions on the face, and can cause painful cramps;3
- problems with balance.3
Losing the sense of smell can come several years before the other signs.3 Parkinson's can also cause constipation, poor sleep, needing to pee at night, and feeling low or anxious.3
How doctors find out
No test can prove for certain that you have Parkinson's.4 Your family doctor asks about your symptoms and may ask you to do simple tasks, such as walking.4 Early signs are often mild, so it can be hard to be sure at first.4 If your family doctor thinks it may be Parkinson's, you are sent to a specialist: a neurologist (a brain and nerve doctor) or a geriatrician (a doctor for older people).4 Sometimes a brain scan called a SPECT scan is done to try to rule out other causes.4
Current treatment
Levodopa or other dopamine medicinesSource: NHS
Will it get worse?
Yes, the symptoms can get worse over time, and everyday tasks can become harder without help.1 Many people do well with treatment and stay only mildly or moderately affected; a smaller number become more severely disabled.1 Parkinson's itself does not directly cause death, but it can make serious infections more likely.1 With today's treatment, most people live a normal or near-normal length of life.1
Medicines: what helps, and what to watch for
Medicines cannot cure Parkinson's, but they can ease the main symptoms.5 Early on you may not need any.5 Most people need levodopa at some point; the brain turns it into dopamine.5 Dopamine agonists act like dopamine, with a milder effect.5 MAO-B inhibitors slow the breakdown of dopamine, and COMT inhibitors, used in later stages, stop levodopa being broken down.5
Good to know:
- Over the years levodopa can work for a shorter time, and long-term use can cause jerky movements you cannot control; the dose may need to be raised from time to time;5
- dopamine agonists, mainly at high doses, can cause strong urges, for example to gamble or to shop; the person may not notice, so carers should look out for it;5
- dopamine agonists can, rarely, make you fall asleep suddenly, usually while the dose is being raised, so avoid driving during that time.5
Exercise and therapy help too
Regular exercise helps with stiffness, mood and stress.6 Early on, more active sports such as cycling, running or team games can suit you; later, walking and gentle stretching and strengthening exercises suit better.6
- a physiotherapist eases stiffness and joint pain and helps you walk and move better;5
- an occupational therapist finds practical ways to make daily tasks easier and checks that your home is safe;5
- a speech and language therapist helps with speaking and swallowing;5
- for constipation, eat more fibre and drink enough fluids.5
Brain surgery, for some people
Most people are treated with medicines.5 For some, deep brain stimulation is used: a small device, like a pacemaker, is put in the chest wall, and fine wires run under the skin to parts of the brain, where it sends a small electric current.5 It does not cure Parkinson's, but it can ease the symptoms for some people.5 It is not right for everyone, and it is done in specialist centres.5
Is there a cure?
Not yet.1 Treatments can ease the main symptoms and help you keep a good quality of life for as long as possible.1,5 Clinical trials compare new treatments with the standard ones; taking part is your choice, and you can stop at any time without it affecting your care.5
Sources
Written in plain words by Frontlight from these pages: