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[ ...Continued From Previous Message ] READER'S DIGEST (April 1997) More than a million Americans have Parkinson's disease, a disorder whose symptoms include muscle tremors, difficulty in walking or standing, slowness and rigidity. The cause is degeneration of nerves in the brain that release the neuro -transmitter dopamine, which helps control movements. Current therapies replace or mimic the lost dopamine with orally administered drugs- but these medications lead to fluctuating levels of the drug in the body (and fluctuating periods of response). Now after three years of research, Virginia Commonwealth University physicians are optimistic that a new skin patch could be used to treat Parkinson's more effectively. The patch secretes a steady stream of a dopamine like medication into the bloodstream. Neurologist Vincent Calabrese, who points out that his study was small and the results preliminary, says more testing is needed. But he adds: " I think the patch could be an important alternative in the treatment of Parkinson's". --------------------------------------------------------------------- Netmail 1:229/510 (Online Now) E-mail: [log in to unmask]