This volume presents an account of recent basic and clinical research on Parkinson"s disease. The book covers the entire spectrum of current research on the epidemiology and genetics of Parkinson"s disease, its biochemical and physiopathological aspects, its clinical features and its treatment. A major portion of the book focuses on the aetiologic and pathogenic mechanisms of Parkinson"s disease, particularly the causes of nigrostriatal cell death and the impairment of various neurotransmitters. Included are case studies on receptor mechanisms, the impairment of mitochondrial activity, and the role of oxidative stress, exogenous and endogenous toxins, and excitatory amino acids in neurodegeneration. Other contributors discuss recent progress in identifying neurotrophic factors of clinical significance in Parkinson"s disease. Close attention is also given to functional neuroimaging studies using SPECT, PET and MR imaging, and spectroscopy. The final section examines new treatment strategies for Parkinson"s disease and for the complications of chronic levodopa therapy.