That led to the first effective treatments for the condition. The disease affects movement, leading to such symptoms as tremors, stiffness, slowness, and postural instability or impaired balance and coordination. The symptoms of the disease get worse over time, leading to difficulty walking, talking, or completing simple tasks. In its final phases, Parkinson's can cause dementia in some people. Since it does not directly affect organs such as the heart, it is not considered life-threatening.
Nerve cells use the drug to replenish the brain's dwindling supply of dopamine.
L-dopa is usually combined with another drug to help more of it reach critical areas of the brain. But it doesn't always work well over time, and it also doesn't always help with all symptoms. There are other drugs, given in varying combinations, which can help treat symptoms of the disease. There is also promising research in areas ranging from the study of pesticide exposure to the advanced surgical procedure known as deep brain stimulation. And in no small part to the popularity of people like Fox, the disease is beginning to get a public face.