Developments in understanding the physiology and pharmacology of parkinsonism.

While the era of major advances in understanding and treating parkinsonism seems to be over, steady progress is being made in elucidating physiological and pharmacological aspects of extrapyramidal function. The dramatic impact of levodopa therapy has been followed by the recognition of serious limitations to its long-term use, which provides a continuing stimulus for efforts to analyze the physiological and pharmacological properties of the basal ganglia and substantia nigra. There are reasonable grounds for the hope that this research will lead to significant developments in therapy.