This b00k reviews the recent advances in the research on Parkinson's
disease. It contains review articles from basic to clinical researches
including the historical introduction and the molecular biological
approach to Parkinson's disease. Parkinson's disease is the most
representative, age-related neurodegenerative disease. It is clinically
characterized by movement disorders such as muscle rigidity, akinesia
and tremor. The elucidation of its biochemical and molecular mechanisms
has rapidly been progressing and is expected to contribute to the
understanding of normal brain aging in general. This project is
supported by a Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research on Priority Areas,
"Molecular Biology of the Motor System", Ministry of Education, Science
and Culture, Japan, for 3 years from 1987 to 1989. We are grateful for
the support. These reviews are a part of the works which have been
supported by this Grant-in-Aid. The characteristics of this research
project on Parkinson's disease are interdisciplinary approach from
basic, molecular biology to clinical medicine, and the molecular
biological approach is expected to be the most promising for the
elucidation of the pathogenesis. The collaboration and discussion
between basic and clinical researchers in this Priority Area Project has
been efficient and productive. We hope that this book can mark another
new milestone in the studies on Park, oson's disease and in
neuroscience. We are very grateful to Nippon Schering for their generous
support for the publication of this book. Last but not least, we thank
Springer-Verlag Wien New York for the excellent production of this book
and the excellent cooperation.
