Biomaterial Database

Speech changes in Parkinson's disease during treatment with L-dopa. 1975

V I Wolfe, and J S Garvin, and M Bacon, and W Waldrop

Section of Communicative Disorders, Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke's Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois 60612.

The speech of 17 Parkinsonian patients was evaluated before and after the administration of L-DOPA therapy. A significant difference was demonstrated after treatment for voice quality, articulation, and pitch variation, but not for rate of speech. Amount of speech improvement correlated significantly with amount of physical improvement. Although age and duration of disease may exert some influence on speech change, the results suggest that these factors do not reliably predict the response. After 4 years of L-DOPA therapy, three out of four patients demonstrated additional improvement or the same degree of speech improvement.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007980	Levodopa	The naturally occurring form of DIHYDROXYPHENYLALANINE and the immediate precursor of DOPAMINE. Unlike dopamine itself, it can be taken orally and crosses the blood-brain barrier. It is rapidly taken up by dopaminergic neurons and converted to DOPAMINE. It is used for the treatment of PARKINSONIAN DISORDERS and is usually given with agents that inhibit its conversion to dopamine outside of the central nervous system.	L-Dopa,3-Hydroxy-L-tyrosine,Dopaflex,Dopar,L-3,4-Dihydroxyphenylalanine,Larodopa,Levopa,3 Hydroxy L tyrosine,L 3,4 Dihydroxyphenylalanine,L Dopa
D010300	Parkinson Disease	A progressive, degenerative neurologic disease characterized by a TREMOR that is maximal at rest, retropulsion (i.e. a tendency to fall backwards), rigidity, stooped posture, slowness of voluntary movements, and a masklike facial expression. Pathologic features include loss of melanin containing neurons in the substantia nigra and other pigmented nuclei of the brainstem. LEWY BODIES are present in the substantia nigra and locus coeruleus but may also be found in a related condition (LEWY BODY DISEASE, DIFFUSE) characterized by dementia in combination with varying degrees of parkinsonism. (Adams et al., Principles of Neurology, 6th ed, p1059, pp1067-75)	Idiopathic Parkinson Disease,Lewy Body Parkinson Disease,Paralysis Agitans,Primary Parkinsonism,Idiopathic Parkinson's Disease,Lewy Body Parkinson's Disease,Parkinson Disease, Idiopathic,Parkinson's Disease,Parkinson's Disease, Idiopathic,Parkinson's Disease, Lewy Body,Parkinsonism, Primary
D013060	Speech	Communication through a system of conventional vocal symbols.	Public Speaking,Speaking, Public