Definition

A medication used to treat Parkinson's disease and other conditions by increasing dopamine levels in the brain.

Example

The doctor prescribed levodopa to help manage the symptoms of Parkinson's disease.

Conversation

Have you heard about levodopa for treating Parkinson's disease?

Yeah, I read that it can really help with the symptoms.

I think it's interesting how it works in the brain.

Definitely! It's amazing what science can do.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Levodopa is derived from 'levo-' (from Latin 'laevus', meaning left) and 'dopa' (a compound derived from 'dihydroxyphenylalanine', which is an amino acid). The term 'levodopa' refers to the left-handed form of dopa, which is used in the treatment of Parkinson's disease.

Memory Tip

Think of 'levo-' meaning 'left' and 'dopa' as a type of amino acid — this helps you remember that levodopa is the left-handed version of dopa used in treatment.

Visually Confused Words