Expert clinicians and basic scientists with a special interest in Parkinson's disease review the current state of science and clinical therapeutics of the disease. Therefore these articles represent an authorative review of the current state of knowledge regarding preclinical course and symptomatology, subtypes with their impact on the pathology, genetic alterations, novel mechanisms of neuronal cell death, diagnostic tools and old and novel therapeutic approaches with respect to neuroprotection and neuroregeneration in Parkinson's disease. Particular emphasis has been placed on a novel antiparkinsonian drug called budipine with various modes of action also influencing altered non dopaminergic systems in Parkinson's disease. It is evident, that many questions on the cause, course and treatment of Parkinson's disease are still unanswered and therefore the ideal way to treat a parkinsonian patient remains to be defined.