Parkinson’s disease is a brain condition that mostly affects how a person moves. It gets worse over time, but the first signs can be small and easy to miss.
These early signs can look different for each person. It’s very helpful to notice these signs early, because getting diagnosed sooner means treatment can start earlier. This can make life easier and help manage the disease better.
One of the first signs many people notice is a tremor, or shaking, in a hand or finger. This shaking usually happens when the hand is resting, not when it’s doing something.
It may look like the person is rolling something between their fingers. This is called a “pill-rolling” tremor. Studies show that this kind of tremor often leads people to see a doctor.
Another early sign is moving more slowly than usual. This is called bradykinesia. A person may notice that they are slower at doing daily tasks like walking, buttoning a shirt, or brushing teeth. Their face might show fewer expressions and they might blink less. This slowing down can make many normal things harder to do.
Muscle stiffness is another early symptom. The arms, legs, or body may feel tight or hard to move. If someone else tries to move the person’s arm, it may feel stiff and not swing freely. This stiffness can make moving painful or uncomfortable.
Posture and balance problems can also show up early. A person might start standing in a hunched or stooped way. They might also feel unsteady and fall more easily. As the disease gets worse, the risk of falling increases.
People with Parkinson’s also lose some of their automatic movements. These are things we do without thinking, like blinking, smiling, or swinging our arms when we walk. In Parkinson’s disease, these movements often slow down or stop. This can make a person look less expressive or make their walk seem stiff.
Changes in speech and handwriting are also common. A person may start speaking more softly or in a flat tone. They may speak fast or slur their words. They might also take longer to speak. Writing may become small and cramped, a sign called micrographia.
Other early signs don’t involve movement. Some people lose their sense of smell, have constipation, or feel depressed or anxious. Sleep problems are also common. Some people move or talk in their sleep, which may be a sign of a condition called REM sleep behavior disorder.
These early signs can appear years before the bigger movement problems start. That’s why it’s important to watch for them. If you or someone you know is having symptoms like these, it’s a good idea to see a doctor. A neurologist, who is a doctor trained to understand the brain and nerves, can help.
Finding Parkinson’s early can lead to earlier treatment. This can help control the symptoms and improve quality of life. The sooner a person gets help, the better they can manage the disease and stay active.
If you care about Parkinson’s disease, please read studies that Vitamin B may slow down cognitive decline, and Mediterranean diet could help lower risk of Parkinson’s.
For more information about brain health, please see recent studies that blueberry supplements may prevent cognitive decline, and results showing Plant-based diets could protect cognitive health from air pollution.
