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Novel nondopaminergic targets for motor features of Parkinson's disease: Review of recent trials
Author(s) -
Kalia Lorraine V.,
Brotchie Jonathan M.,
Fox Susan H.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
movement disorders
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.352
H-Index - 198
eISSN - 1531-8257
pISSN - 0885-3185
DOI - 10.1002/mds.25273
Subject(s) - neuroscience , parkinson's disease , dopaminergic , neurotransmitter , dopamine , basal ganglia , serotonergic , neurotransmitter systems , medicine , psychology , disease , central nervous system , serotonin , receptor
Neurotransmitters other than dopamine are recognized as having modulatory roles within the basal ganglia and can influence the basal ganglia dopaminergic system to alter activity of the direct and indirect pathways. Many nondopaminergic neurotransmitter systems have been implicated in the mechanisms contributing to the motor features of Parkinson's disease (PD). Thus, it is now well established that neurotransmitter systems, including glutamatergic, GABAergic, cholinergic, noradrenergic, serotonergic, opioidergic, histaminergic, and adenosinergic systems, are affected in the pathogenesis of PD. Nondopaminergic neurotransmitter systems are thus targets for the development of novel therapies for motor symptoms and motor complications in PD. Over the last 5 years, more than 20 randomized, control trials (RCTs) in PD investigating drugs that target several of these nondopaminergic neurotransmitter systems for the treatment of motor features have been completed. There are at least 15 additional RCTs that are ongoing or planned. Here, we review these RCTs to highlight the potential nondopaminergic pharmacological therapies for treatment of motor features of PD. Nondopaminergic drugs are not expected to replace dopaminergic strategies, but further development of these drugs will likely yield novel approaches with positive clinical implications. © 2012 Movement Disorder Society