Characterizing Biomarkers of Early Parkinson's Disease Progression (TREG) (TREG)

Inclusion Criteria:

• Men and women between the ages of 40 and 80 years
• Diagnosis of idiopathic Parkinson's disease based on the UK PD Brain Bank criteria35
• PD diagnosis within 5 years (≤ 5 years)
• Hoehn and Yahr severity stage less than or equal to 3 (Mild to moderate bilateral disease; some postural instability; physically independent).36
• Remain untreated with levodopa or a dopamine agonist for the duration of the study (up to 7 months, can have treatment with MAO-B inhibitors rasagiline or selegiline)
• Able to understand and give informed consent for the study
• Able to stand and walk unassisted

Exclusion Criteria:

• Current use of dopamine-blocking therapy or significant history of dopamine-blocking therapy (> 1 yr of daily use of the following: typical and atypical antipsychotics except for quetiapine and clozapine, metoclopramide, prochlorperazine, tetrabenazine, reserpine)
• Autoimmune disease or current anti-inflammatory or immunomodulatory therapy (aspirin, Tylenol, ibuprofen, naproxen OK)
• Other condition already causing gait dysfunction or likely to cause significant change in motor/gait function over 6 month period (i.e. knee or hip replacement within the past 6 months or surgery planned during the study, peripheral neuropathy causing impaired proprioception at big toes)
• History of treatment with carbidopa/levodopa, dopamine agonist, or amantadine (can have history of treatment with MAO-B inhibitors rasagiline or selegiline)
• Patient anticipates that they will require symptomatic treatment for PD within the next 6 months