When it comes to which drug works best for patients with newly diagnosed Parkinson’s disease, older may still be better. [s]Health24[/s] reports that new research has found that the dopamine drug levodopa still outperforms newer medications for the long-term care of people newly diagnosed with Parkinson's. In the largest-ever trial of Parkinson's disease treatment, levodopa offered patients better mobility and a higher quality of life than the two main alternatives – drugs called dopamine agonists and monoamine oxidase type B (MAO-B) inhibitors. ‘This study lays to rest lingering questions about which drug is most beneficial when first beginning treatment for the disease,’ said James Beck, vice president of scientific affairs at the [b]Parkinson’s Disease Foundation[/b].
[link url=http://www.health24.com/Mental-Health/News/Levodopa-beats-newer-drugs-for-Parkinsons-20140612]Full Health24 report[/link]
[link url=http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(14)60683-8/abstract]The Lancet article summary[/link]