MDS 2020 | Limitations of levodopa, deep brain stimulation and botulinum for treating dystonia

Patricia Maria Carvalho Aguiar, MD, PhD, Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, São Paulo, Brazil, discusses the current treatments for dystonia and their limitations. The current treatments are levodopa, deep brain stimulation and botulinum. Although some patients respond well to treatment, the response can be partial and many others do not find symptomatic relief. Therefore, new drugs need to be developed. Dr Carvalho Aguiar believes that due to the genetic complexity of the disorder, not a single drug or molecular pathway will be able to treat the disease. This interview was recorded during an online conference call with The Video Journal of Neurology (VJNeurology).