SOUTHWEST FLORIDA - Doctors estimate that one and a half million Americans suffer from Parkinson's disease, an illness of the central nervous system. It's a movement disorder that causes tremors, and stiffness in the limbs.

One of the newest medications to treat Parkinson's is REQUIP XL. It could make a big difference for some patients because it's released slowly into the brain, requiring only one pill a day.

"There is a new dopamine agonist called REQUIP XL and this is once a day. It’s smooth and is not pulsate. The pulsate stimulation of the brain which is not good for Parkinson's patients," said Dr. Edward Steinmetz, Neurologist.

Doctors know that an early diagnosis and treatment can extend a patient's quality of life.

The goal for today's generation of medications is to slow down the destruction of specific brain cells.

In the animal model and test tube model they seem to have some neuroprotection, in other words slow down the progression of the Parkinson's it protects those cell from self districting," said Dr. Steinmetz.

Dr. Steinmetz says Parkinson's patients can also enhance their quality of life by staying physically and mentally active. This means walking, swimming, dancing and taking on things that mentally challenge you; a heart healthy lifestyle also helps.