Highlights

I would say that most patients are not that interested to start treatment unless they are somewhat disabled in some way. Usually, it’s like they have some problem with doing activities at home or at work. Some patients may not be functionally disabled but they might even be a little socially disabled if they have tremor constantly, which is very annoying and socially bothersome, so in that situation then the patients may opt for treatment as well.

So, for the early-stage patients, it depends again on level of disability, and also age and how this patient functions. So, if it’s a young patient with early-onset Parkinson’s, I probably will opt to treat with something milder, but if they’re quite disabled, they have difficulty doing their activities or doing their work, then I would opt to start with levodopa. Otherwise, if they’re mild, then I would start maybe a dopamine agonist or MAO-B inhibitor