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L-DOPA SLOWS THE PROGRESSION OF PARKINSON'S DISEASE The toxicity of levodopa (L-dopa) has long been debated. This is an important issue because L-dopa is the mainstay of therapy for Parkinson's disease and treatment can sometimes be delayed because of fear of the drug's toxicity. In this week's Lancet Katrina Gwinn-Hardy and colleagues report the findings of a study into the effects of L-dopa on Parkinson's disease in a family with a history of the disease. Family members living after 1969 received L-dopa and those who died before 1969 did not. The researchers found that those treated with L-dopa had longer survival and slower progression of the disease compared with those who were untreated. The researchers conclude that "although clinical data cannot directly address the issue of neurotoxicity, they suggest that therapy should be started without delay or fears concerning toxicity".