Abstract

Parkinson’s disease is a common progressive neurodegenerative disorder presenting with characteristic motor symptoms. Non-motor dysfunctions and therapyrelated complications frequently develop, but are often underdiagnosed and undertreated. Levodopa- induced dyskinesia and impulse control disorders are suggested to share pathophysiological processes and m a y be related to alterations of the glutamatergic neurotransmission. Anti- glutamatergic interventions are therefore worth considering: several lines of evidence already indicate their beneficial effect. The kynurenine pathway offers the endogenous glutamate receptor antagonist kynurenic acid, which may act as a promising candidate for future drug development with the aim of assessment of the motor symptoms and therapy-related complications of Parkinson’s disease.

Keywords: Parkinson’s disease, kynurenic acid, neuroprotection, NMDA receptor, glutamate, levodopa-induced dyskinesia, excitotoxicity.