I agree with your remarks about levodopa possibly enhancing undesirable free radical production in the brain. Somewhat more ominous, however, is the possibility that dopamine itself can be harmful, in excess. The current therapy which delivers dopamine to deficient areas in the substantia nigra seems crude at best and difficult to regulate, and the research on apoptosis seems to indicate that excess dopamine is one of the stimuli that cause dopaminergic neurons to shut down (atrophy? or die?). If true, this hypothesis supports the notion that levodopa therapy, while known to be effective, should be approached cautiously and frugally. For most of us this presents a tough choice, impossible to confirm, and we can only hope for the day when those neurons can be restored and preserved. Cheers, Joe J. R. Bruman (818) 789-3694 3527 Cody Road Sherman Oaks CA 91403