Levodopa: The Gold Standard Treatment for Parkinson's Disease

Levodopa (brand name Sinemet) is an amino acid that is directly converted to dopamine in the brain. Dopamine controls motor function and its loss is responsible for the motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease. Levodopa replaces this deficit and remains the most effective pharmacotherapy for the motor features of Parkinson's, including tremor, stiffness, and slowness of movement.

In Parkinson's disease, there is loss of dopamine-producing neurons in a region of the midbrain called the substantia nigra. This loss causes dopamine levels to decrease in areas such as the striatum, disrupting normal movement control and coordination. Levodopa passes the blood–brain barrier and enters dopamine pathways in the brain. There, it is converted to dopamine and can perform dopamine's normal functions, thus counteracting the motor symptoms caused by dopamine deficiency in Parkinson's.

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How does protein intake affect Parkinson’s medication efficacy?

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How does protein intake affect Parkinson’s medication efficacy?
Protein intake can greatly influence the effectiveness of Parkinson’s medication, particularly levodopa (L-DOPA)—the most common and effective therapy for the motor signs of Parkinson’s disease (PD).

???? Why This Happens:
Levodopa blocks the absorption of certain amino acids (building blocks of protein) in the small bowel and transport through the blood-brain barrier.

If one has a high-protein meal near the time that he or she takes levodopa, the drug won’t be absorbed well, or won’t be absorbed at all until some time later, lessening its capacity to manage motor symptoms.

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