In the past 10 years, researchers have discovered a lot of new information about Parkinson’s disease and found ways to significantly improve symptoms. However, many people with Parkinson’s still need additional treatment options.¹ Researchers study new drugs and guidelines through clinical trials.

Read on to learn about four ways research is improving treatment for Parkinson’s.

1. Better Options for Treating Dyskinesia

Levodopa, often used in combination with carbidopa, is a mainstay of treatment for Parkinson’s motor symptoms.² Levodopa is available in many forms.² However, dyskinesia is a common side effect of long-term use of levodopa for Parkinson’s. Dyskinesia causes abnormal and involuntary movements.³

Amantadine had been used for years to treat dyskinesia in Parkinson’s. Gocovri (amantadine extended-release) was approved in 2017 as a more effective way to help treat dyskinesia in people with Parkinson’s.⁴

2. Improvement in ‘Off’ Time

As Parkinson’s advances, some people begin to experience motor fluctuations — known as “off” time — when Parkinson’s medications such as levodopa/carbidopa don’t work as well, and symptoms like tremor and walking difficulty worsen.⁵ In recent years, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved several drugs to treat Parkinson’s during “off” time, including:

• Rytary (carbidopa/levodopa), an extended-release oral capsule, in 2015⁶
• Duopa (carbidopa/levodopa), an enteral suspension delivered to the small intestine via an implanted pump, in 2015⁷
• Xadago (safinamide) in 2017⁸
• Inbrija (levodopa inhalation powder) in 2018⁹
• Nourianz (istradefylline) in 2019¹⁰
• Kynmobi, a sublingual film (under the tongue) form of apomorphine, in 2020¹¹
• Ongentys (opicapone) in 2020¹²
• Gocovri, approved to treat “off” episodes as well as dyskinesia, in 2021⁴

3. More Focus on Treating Nonmotor Symptoms

Although motor symptoms are the hallmark of Parkinson’s, many people also experience nonmotor symptoms. For some people, these can include cognitive changes such as dementia, hallucinations, and delusions.¹³ Nuplazid (pimavanserin) was approved by the FDA in 2016 as the first drug to treat hallucinations and delusions associated with Parkinson’s.¹⁴

4. New Treatment Strategies on the Horizon

Two new drugs are currently being tested for their potential to slow the progress of Parkinson’s disease in phase 2 clinical trials. Prasinezumab is infused intravenously (by IV) once every four weeks. This study is scheduled to be completed in 2026.¹⁵ An oral drug currently known as UCB0599 is also undergoing testing for slowing Parkinson’s progression. This clinical trial is scheduled to be completed in 2024.¹⁶

Researchers are also exploring a number of new treatment strategies for Parkinson’s, including¹:

• Calcium channel blockers — used to treat high blood pressure — to slow the progress of Parkinson’s
• Ways to modulate the immune system’s effects in Parkinson’s, including using a drug called sargramostim
• Delivery of gene therapy to protect dopamine-producing cells using a harmless virus

Communicate With Your Health Care Provider

Talk to your neurologist or movement disorder specialist about treatment options for Parkinson’s. Ask your doctor how you can manage Parkinson’s symptoms. You can also ask your doctor about participating in clinical trials.Those who participate can help pave the way for more treatment options for Parkinson’s becoming available in the future.

Talk With Others Who Understand

MyParkinsonsTeam is the social network for people with Parkinson’s and their loved ones. On MyParkinsonsTeam, more than 98,000 members come together to ask questions, give advice, and share their stories with others who understand life with Parkinson’s.

Are you living with Parkinson’s and interested in learning more about the latest research into new treatments? Have you ever considered participating in a clinical trial? Share your experience in the comments below, or start a conversation by posting on your Activities page.