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Listmembers, This morning I found this on the web. Everyone who still remembers my troubles with "wearing off" dyskinesie and my hope that this tormenting symptom might be treated with anti-glutamates, will understand that my arousal was running high, when I was reading this. Especially the fact that it is published in the prestigeous journal "Neurology" (25 april 2000 issue) is remarkable. But not nly for people who suffer from wearin-off dyskinesia, this is a publication that gives hope. Another remarkable thing is that it is about a new medicine, that is really new and not just another dopamine agonist or something like that. Ida Alternative Treatment for Parkinson's disease? My Hong Mautz APril 24 (CBSHealthWatch)—An experimental drug may offer patients with Parkinson's disease a new way to treat the disease in its early stages, according to new research. Until now, the medication levodopa has been the most effective option to treat the symptoms of Parkinson's disease. But it causes negative side effects, including dizziness, and the drug's benefits can start to wear off in a couple of years. Clinical studies show the new drug, remacemide hydrochloride, may safely delay the progression of the disease with only mild side effects. Researchers say the drug could eventually provide an alternative way to treat the more advanced symptoms of Parkinson's disease when levodopa is no longer effective. "it ould mean a potential new class of Parkinson's therapies," says Dr. Steven Schwid, lead author of the study and assistant professor at the University of Rochester in New York. "If it is also proved to have neuroprotective qualities by preventing the progression of the disease, it could be even more significant advance in the treatment of Parkinson's disease." In the study, patients reported only minor side effects such as dizziness and nausea. "Remacemide showed good safety and mild side effects in this trial," aays Schwid. Other experts say the findings are exciting. The drug acts on a neurotransmitter in the brain called glutamate, a chemical involved in symptom development of Parkinson's disease. Earlier evidence showed too much glutamate can cause damage to nerve cells. Remacemide can block the effects of glutamate and protect the nerve cells. "It provides an opportunity to not only treat the symptoms of Parkinson's disease," says Dr. Joseph Jankovic, director of Parkinson's Center at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas, "but also to alter the natural cause of the disease and to delay the progression." Researchers say remacemide interferes with glutamate activity and has improved symptoms in animal models of Parkinson's disease. The drug has also been used in clinical trials for epilepsy, acute stroke and Huntington's disease. Parkinson's disease is a chronic disease that affects the brain and impairs mobility. About one million senior citizens in the US develop Parkinson's disease. The study is published in the April 25 issue of Neurology . Kind regards / Vriendelijke groeten Ida Kamphuis