AbstractParkinson’s disease is the second most common aged associated neurodegenerative disorder after Alzhiemer affecting approximately 1% of the population above the age 50. James Parkinson for the first time medically described Parkinson disease as a neurological disorder in his famous work “An Essay of the shaking palsy”. The pathological hallmark of PD is selective and progressive degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta of human brain and the accumulation of Lewy bodies in the surviving neurons. Cardinal symptoms of Parkinson’s disease include resting tremor, rigidity, postural instability. Besides motor symptoms, several nonmotor symptoms are manifested many years before the onset of motor symptoms. Parkinson’s disease is classified into sporadic and familial PD. Therapeutic strategies prior to Levodopa and Deep Brain stimulation include bloodletting from the neck, vesicatories, shaking chair, hydrotherapy, spa treatments, light exercise and treating with hyoscyamine, arsenic, morphia, conium, Indian hemp” (cannabis). Though levodopa is the leading treatment for PD, it has many limitations. Stem cell therapy appears to be a promising therapy to replenish degenerated dopaminergic neurons.
Keywords: Parkinson’s Disease; Motor Symptoms; NonMotor Symptoms; Deep Brain Stimulation; Levodopa; Stem Cell Therapy; Biomarkers.