New Approaches in the Exploration of Parkinson’s Disease

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder, and it is considered one of the major challenges in contemporary neuroscience. Traditionally defined by its cardinal motor manifestations (e.g., tremor, bradykinesia, rigidity, and postural instability), PD is now widely recognized as a complex, multisystem condition with a broad spectrum of non-motor symptoms. PD is also characterized by a long prodromal phase, during which substantial pathological changes precede the onset of the motor presentation. Despite significant progress in understanding its underlying mechanisms, crucial aspects of PD pathogenesis, early detection, and disease-modifying treatment remain unresolved. The exploration of innovative diagnostic methods, refined biomarkers, and novel therapeutic strategies is essential to advance our ability to characterize, monitor, and eventually modify the course of the disease.