Levodopa toxicity a myth?

[Roxanna Nakamura <roxyn@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I just came across these interesting new articles in the
AMA's Archives of Neurology:

"Is Levodopa toxic?"


"Levodopa toxicity in Parkinson Disease: Reality or Myth?"


"Levodopa toxicity"


Despite the titles, these articles are encouraging.
Apparently, research does *not* support the theory that
levodopa hastens disease progression or cell death. On the
contrary, levodopa extends life and decreases disability.
The real "toxicity" concern, the authors say, is whether/how
levodopa really is related to motor fluctuations and
dyskinesia.