dopa

/ˈdoʊpə/
noun
  1. A chemical substance in the body that is used to make dopamine and other important molecules; also used as a medicine for Parkinson's disease.
    • The body naturally produces dopa from an amino acid found in food.
    • Doctors sometimes prescribe a drug called L-dopa to help people with Parkinson's disease move more easily.
    • Scientists study how dopa works in the brain to understand movement and mood.