Protocol of a randomised delayed-start double-blind placebo-controlled multi-centre trial for Levodopa in EArly Parkinson’s disease: the LEAP-study

Background The aim of this study is to investigate if early treatment with levodopa has a beneficial disease modifying effect on Parkinson’s disease (PD) symptoms and functional health, improves the ability to (maintain) work, and reduces the use of (informal) care, caregiver burden, and costs. Additionally, cost-effectiveness and cost-utility of early levodopa treatment will be assessed.