Therapeutic Milestones in PD


1817 Description of ‘The Shaking Palsy’ by James Parkinson.

1867 Tinctures of deadly nightshade & henbane to control excessive salivation & drooling: wider anti-parkinsonian effect noted.

1960 Description of dopamine deficiency in basal ganglia, furnishing basis of dopamine substation as rational approach to medicinal treatment (Oleh Hornykiewicz).

1969 Amantadine, an anti-viral agent, has anti-parkinsonian effect.

1983 A bacterium Helicobacter pylori associated with gastritis (Warren & Marshall, Nobel Laureates 2004). This forms basis for current clinical approach to peptic ulcer, and provides a treatable risk factor for gastric cancer.

by courtesy of Barry Marshall