The word “cure” is often used as the stated, or assumed, ultimate goal of Parkinson’s disease research. The more I think about it, the less sure I am just what constitutes a “cure” in connection to PD. A big part of the difficulty of coming up with a definition may be because it’s tough to separate effects of the disease itself, medications and the simple process of aging.
So …. can you offer a working definition of what a “cure” is in relation to PD?
Great question.
A cure is usually when the disease has been completely eradicated from an individual patient.
Symptomatic therapy is when a therapy helps improve individual symptoms.
Disease modification is when a therapy improves the course or slows the course of the disease.
Hope that helps.
Michael S. Okun, M.D.
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