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Levodopa remains the gold standard for treating Parkinson’s disease, but there has long been controversy about this drug’s potential to exert toxic effects on nigral cells, thereby accelerating disease progression. William Weiner evaluates the evidence and explores the implications of this debate for interpreting research data.
In this Training Matters article, the author discusses the importance of encouraging empathy skills in neurology residents, and offers practical guidance on how this can be achieved.
Most cases of human narcolepsy—a neurological disorder that is characterized by excessive daytime sleepiness and cataplexy—are attributable to a loss of neurons that produce hypocretin. This article reviews the evidence linking the loss of these cells to the genesis of narcolepsy, and considers the implications for treatment of this condition.