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Typical treatment of Parkinson\\u2019s disease (PD) consists of oral levodopa/carbidopa, along with other oral medications. Although there is no one-size fits all treatment, people with PD may experience more \\u201coff\\u201d periods, or symptom fluctuations, as the disease progresses. In this case, non-oral treatments, such as pump therapy, may be another option to consider.

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Examples of currently available pump therapies for Parkinson\\u2019s include medication, namely apomorphine, delivered under the skin (subcutaneous) from a pump, or a gel containing levodopa/carbidopa delivered by a pump inserted through the skin directly into the upper part of the small intestine (intestinal gel pump).

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In June 2023, expert Parkinson\\u2019s clinicians and researchers led a course in Poland about current pump therapies and what may be coming in the future. In today\\u2019s episode, Professor Ray Chaudhuri, one of the course leaders and Director of the Parkinson\\u2019s Foundation Centre of Excellence at King\\u2019s College Hospital in London, discusses some of the topics in the course, including who would be a good candidate for pump therapy, the benefits and risks, and recent developments in pump treatment options.