Respuesta :
Answer:
Option C, Parkinson's disease
Explanation:
Levodopa/Carbidopa is a combination dopamine agonist medication in which, upon absorption, levodopa is converted within the central nervous system (CNS) into neurotransmitter dopamine and carbidopa inhibits the enzyme responsible for breaking down and destroying levodopa.
As a dopamine-producing medication, one could ascertain that it is used in the treatment of conditions in which a patient is experiencing low levels of dopamine. Of the given options, the condition that fits this criteria is Parkinson's disease, option C.
Parkinson's disease is a neurological condition in which a patient's neurons progressively and gradually die leading to a decline in the amounts of dopamine present in the brain. This causes abnormal neurocognitive function and manifests in the symptoms that are characteristic of Parkinson's:
- Hand tremors and "pill rolling" at rest that may be absent during activity
- Slow movement (bradykinesia) and shuffling gait
- Muscle rigidity
- Impaired balance and posture
Why Not Other Choices:
Alzheimer's disease is another neurological disease in which neurons die off, however the cause of this condition is not thought to be neurotransmitter-related; current research suggests the development of beta-amyloid plaques and tau protein neurofibrillary tangles. This condition is treated with acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitors.
Myasthenia gravis (MG) is an autoimmune disorder caused by antibodies and also treated with AChE inhibitors.
Lastly, multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disorder in which the myelin sheaths surrounding nerve cells are broken down. Treatment involves the use of intravenous (IV) corticosteroids and interferon medications.
Final answer:
Levodopa/Carbidopa is used to treat Parkinson's disease by increasing dopamine levels to ease symptoms related to the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra.
Explanation:
Levodopa/Carbidopa is most commonly used to treat Parkinson's disease, a neurodegenerative disease characterized by the loss of dopamine neurons in the substantia nigra, leading to symptoms such as tremor, slowed movement, speech changes, and rigid muscles. As there is no cure for Parkinson's disease, treatments like Levodopa/Carbidopa focus on easing symptoms by increasing dopamine levels in the brain.
Parkinson's disease can also present psychological symptoms such as dementia or emotional problems, and the effectiveness of treatments such as L-DOPA may decrease over time while potentially causing additional side effects.
