9 Early Signs of Parkinson’s Disease

Michael J. Fox, Neil Diamond and Ozzy Osbourne all have something in common, other than being celebrities. They all have Parkinson’s disease. According to the Parkinson’s Foundation, more than 10 million people worldwide are living with Parkinson’s, a neurodegenerative disease that progressively worsens over time. With Parkinson’s disease, nerve cells or neurons that produce dopamine in the brain slowly die or become impaired, affecting the nervous system and resulting in uncontrollable movements.

Men are more likely to develop Parkinson’s disease than women, and the risk of developing the condition increases with age as it generally affects those middle-aged and older. Researchers are unsure of the exact cause but believe genetics and environment may be factors.

While there is no cure for Parkinson’s disease, medications and lifestyle changes can help with symptoms. Paying attention to early symptoms can help with crafting a plan for living with this condition. Several symptoms are commonly displayed during the early stages of Parkinson’s disease.

Here are the early symptoms of Parkinson's disease:

1. Tremors or shaking: The Parkinson’s Foundation has said about 70% to 90% of patients with Parkinson’s disease may experience a tremor throughout their lifetime. Tremors are the most common early sign of the disease. Those affected experience tremors or shaking while at rest, usually in limbs, including hands and fingers, on one side of the body. As the disease progresses, tremors may affect both sides of the body. Tremors can also occur internally inside the chest or abdomen.
2. Slow movement and stiffness: Parkinson’s disease affects the neuron cells in the brain that control movement, causing stiffness and even pain in the body, specifically in the arm, legs, shoulders, and hips. Patients in the early stages of the disease may experience difficulty walking and slow movement.
3. Handwriting changes: Micrographic is a medical disorder often associated with neurodegenerative disease, causing handwriting to be small and crowded. Though handwriting may change as we age due to other ailments, such as arthritis in the hands, the change can be an early indication of Parkinson’s disease.
4. Sleep issues: People with Parkinson’s disease may experience changes in sleep patterns, including insomnia or daytime sleepiness caused by tremors, vivid dreams and acting them out while sleeping, restless leg syndrome and urges to move limbs when trying to sleep.
5. Voice changes: As Parkinson’s disease progresses, patients experience changes in their speaking patterns and abilities. An early sign of Parkinson’s disease is speaking slowly, at a low volume, with clarity difficulty.
6. Masking: Stiffness is a commonly known sign of Parkinson’s disease. Hypomania, often referred to as facial masking, is an early sign of the disease, making the movement of small muscles in the face difficult due to stiffness and slowing of the muscles. Facial masking can cause communication difficulties because it is hard to express emotions. Patients may look sad or angry when they are, in fact, happy and joyful.
7. Posture instability: Slouching, stooping, rounded shoulders and leaning are all early signs of Parkinson’s disease. Muscle stiffness causes these changes in posture and the ability to stand up straight.
8. Loss of smell: The medical term for a decreased sense of smell is hyposmia. It is unclear why, but loss of smell is an indication of early Parkinson’s disease. It is a subtle symptom that may go undetected for several years before a diagnosis is given. Patients experience a decrease in appetite due to losing the sense of taste.
9. Constipation: The nervous system regulates activity in the gut and bodily functions. Constipation is a common early sign of Parkinson’s disease due to the nervous system not functioning properly. A slower digestive tract may result in bloating, nausea, discomfort straining, hard stools, and fewer than three bowel movements per week.

Early symptoms of Parkinson’s disease are similar to those of other conditions, and symptoms can even be easily explained away, making it even more important to be aware and mindful of the early signs. Parkinson’s is an ongoing disease, and early detection is important. If you or a loved one experiences any of these symptoms, contact your doctor for care.