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Other movement disorders include cerebral palsy, ataxia, and
Tourette syndrome.
They happen when a change in the nervous system affects a
person's ability to move
or stay still.
Tourette syndrome.
They happen when a change in the nervous system affects a
person's ability to move
or stay still.
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) note that, in the United
States, around
50,000 peoplereceive a diagnosis of Parkinson's disease (PD)
each year, and around
half a million people are
living with the condition.
States, around
50,000 peoplereceive a diagnosis of Parkinson's disease (PD)
each year, and around
half a million people are
living with the condition.
Read on to find out more about this condition, the early signs,
and what causes it.
and what causes it.
What is Parkinson's disease?
Tremor in one hand is a early sign of Parkinson's disease.
The symptoms of PD develop gradually. They often start with a slight tremor in one hand and a feeling of stiffness in the body.
Over time, other symptoms develop, and some people will have dementia.
Most of the symptoms result from a fall in dopamine levels in the brain.
One study, based in France, found in 2015 that men are 50 percent more likely to develop PD than women overall, but the risk for women appears to increase with age.
In most people, symptoms appear at the age of 60 years or over.
However in
5–10 percent of cases they appear earlier. When PD develops
before the age of
50 years, this is called "early onset" PD.
However in
5–10 percent of cases they appear earlier. When PD develops
before the age of
50 years, this is called "early onset" PD.
Early signs
Here are some early signs of PD:
- Movement: There may be a tremor in the hands.
- Coordination: A reduced sense of coordination and
- balance can cause
- people to drop items they are holding. They may be
- more likely to fall.
- Gait: The person's posture may change, so that they
- lean forward slightly,
- as if they were hurrying. They may also develop a
- shuffling gait.
- Facial expression: This can become fixed, due to
- changes in the nerves
- that control facial muscles.
- Voice: There may be a tremor in the voice, or the
- person may speak more softly than before.
- Handwriting: This may become more cramped and
- smaller.
- Sense of smell: A loss of sense of smell can be an
- early sign.
- Sleep problems: These are a feature of Parkinson's,
- and they may be
- an early sign. Restless legs may contribute to this.
Other common symptoms include:
- mood changes, including depression
- difficulty chewing and swallowing
- problems with urination
- constipation
- skin problems
- sleep problems
predictor" for PD and some other neurological conditions.
The importance of recognizing early symptoms
Many people think that the early signs of Parkinson's are
normal signs of
normal signs of
aging. For this reason, they may not seek help.
However, treatment is more likely to be effective if a
person takes it early in
person takes it early in
the development of PD. For this reason, it is important to get an early
diagnosis if possible.
If treatment does not start until the person has clear symptoms, it will not be
as effective.
Moreover, a number of other conditions can have similar
symptoms.
symptoms.
These include:
- drug-induced Parkinsonism
- head trauma
- encephalitis
- stroke
- Lewy body dementia
- corticobasal degeneration
- multiple system atrophy
- progressive supranuclear palsy
The similarity to other conditions can make it hard for
doctors to diagnose
doctors to diagnose
Parkinson's disease in the early stages.
Movement symptoms may start on one side of the body
and gradually affect
and gradually affect
both sides.
