Parkinson's disease is a chronically progressive neurodegenerative disease, characterized by the breakdown of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra. It delivers a chemical called dopamine to the basal ganglia, which ensure smooth movement and prevent involuntary movements. Parkinson's disease occurs because the supply of dopamine is weakened or interrupted. Its deficiency leads to classic motor signs and symptoms of Parkinson's disease, such as slowness and smallness of movement, balance and gait disorders, stiffness, tremor, increased muscle tone and postural instability, and also many non-motor symptoms. Parkinson's disease is a complex polygenic disease, and the cause of its occurrence is not yet fully known. A combination of genetic and environmental factors contributes to the disease, so the exact profression of the disease cannot exactly be predicted. The most important risk factor for Parkinson's disease is age. Unfortunately, we do not currently know the cure for Parkinson's disease, but several types of medicines that relieve its symptoms do exist. However, since pharmacological treatment of the disease itself does not actually cure or slow its progression, a number of studies have recently been performed in the field of alternative therapies, with the aim to introduce a specific therapeutic gene into target cells. Currently, three strategies have been developed and evaluated: increase dopamine synthesis, expression of trophic factors, and neuromodulation.
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