No currently available treatments can stop or slow down Parkinson's disease. However, doctors now have more than a dozen drugs to control symptoms. The name of the game is to make up for the loss of dopamine in the brain, in a variety of ways. Again, it's crucial for patients to consult an expert. Most of Parkinson's disease treatment is a matter of juggling and tweaking medications, and a movement disorder specialist will have a lot more experience doing that than a general neurologist, says Martha Gardner, a Parkinson's patient and former nurse who is coordinator of the American Parkinson Disease Association (APDA) Information and Referral Center at Stanford University.

• Drugs

The gold standard medicine is levodopa, sold as Sinemet, which is converted in the brain into dopamine. Other classes of drugs -- such as dopamine agonists, COMT inhibitors, and MAO-B inhibitors -- either mimic the actions of dopamine or counteract its breakdown in the brain.

If a patient has run-of-the-mill Parkinson's disease, Sinemet or dopamine agonists are likely to work well for several years after diagnosis. Over time, though, symptoms start to re-emerge. And side effects from the drugs themselves begin to become problematic. Most troublesome are the random wiggly, writhing movements called dyskinesias.

• Surgery

If adjustments in a patient's medication regimen fail to adequately solve these challenges, surgical treatments may improve the situation. In particular, in some patients a method called deep brain stimulation can reduce the need for drugs: Electrodes are permanently placed in the brain and connected to a battery-operated pacemaker (implanted in the chest). The pacemaker sends electrical signals to the brain that block the abnormal nerve impulses causing motor symptoms.

• Other strategies for improving and maintaining a patient's functioning

Regular stretching, strengthening, and aerobic exercises can help a person stay flexible, improve posture, and move more easily. As the disease advances, physical therapy and occupational therapy can offer advice and strategies for navigating difficulties with the daily activities of living. And speech therapy can train a patient to talk at a louder volume to be understood clearly.