What the Heck Is That? – The New York Times

The amino acid L-dopa, also known as levodopa, is best known as a treatment for the symptoms of Parkinsons disease. It has appeared in the New York Times Crossword 20 times.

L-dopa is a precursor to the neurotransmitter dopamine, and is able to cross the blood-brain barrier, whereas dopamine cannot. Once past the barrier, the amino acid is converted to dopamine, which helps relieve the tremors associated with Parkinsons.

While it had first been compounded in the early 20th century, L-dopa burst onto the clinical scene in the 1950s and 60s as a miracle drug for those who had suffered from the debilitating symptoms of the disease.

While L-dopa seems fairly clinical for a crossword puzzle, it made its way into the lexicon after Dr. Oliver Sacks published his 1973 memoir, Awakenings. The book recounted the lives of those who had survived the 1917-28 encephalitis epidemic and his attempts to treat them with L-dopa. The book was made into a film starring Robert De Niro in 1990.

Parkinsons treatment, Drug used to treat Parkinsons, Psychoactive drug used in medicine, Drug treatment for Muhammad Ali, Component of the combo drug Sinimet, Parkinsons disease drug

Originally posted here:
What the Heck Is That? - The New York Times