Resumen
Parkinson's Disease (PD) is a movement disorder associated with untimely deterioration of neurons in the motor control areas of the brain, primarily the basal ganglia. Akinesia, or freezing gait, is a common symptom of PD. It is characterized by a progressive shortening of stride length, and eventually the total inability to initiate and sustain ambulation. This is one of the most debilitating symptoms of the disease, usually resulting in greatly reduced social and physical activity. Parkinson's symptoms are most commonly treated pharmacologically with variants of L-dopa, a chemical precursor of the neurotransmitter dopamine. L-dopa treatment can be quite effective for overcoming akinesia, but it typically has at least two undesirable characteristics: its effects are widely variable throughout the course of the day; and over time increasingly more severe dyskinesia may result, often to the point of being as difficult to manage as the akinesia itself, and sometimes resulting in profound weight loss due to constant exertion.