ABSTRACT
Deep brain stimulation (DBS) and lesional stereotactic surgery are well-established treatments for Parkinson’s disease (PD). This chapter will discuss the limitations of current strategies and potential novel therapies in the treatment of PD. These include attempts to replace dopaminergic neurons, prevention of ongoing loss of dopaminergic neurons, and direct infusion of pharmacologic agents. However, before discussing novel therapies, some of the lessons learned in previous clinical trials for adrenal chromaffin and human fetal mesencephalic transplants will be examined. Ethical issues raised by these studies will also be examined.
