PARKINSON’S DISEASE is a progressive disease of the nervous system marked by certain symptoms. There are six early symptoms to spot that co...
PARKINSON’S DISEASE is a progressive disease of the nervous system marked by certain symptoms. There are six early symptoms to spot that could mean the disease is prevalent. What are they?
Parkinson’s is a progressive neurological condition. It causes problems in the brain that gets worse over time. The number of people diagnosed with Parkinson’s in the UK is about 145,000, which is around one adult in every 350. A person who suffers from Parkinson’s doesn’t have enough of the chemical dopamine because some of the nerve cells that make it have died. When these cells have died in the brain symptoms may start to appear due to the lack of dopamine to control movement properly.
Tremors have been characterised as a key sign of the disease.
Tremors involve a persistent twitching or shaking of the hands, legs or chin. The tremors may start gradually, sometimes starting with a barely noticeable tremor that may be in just one hand.
Tremors are common and may get worse over time.
Difficulty walking
A person’s walking pattern may subtly start to change.
A person may begin to walk a lot slower or drag their feet as they walk.
This is often referred to as a “shuffling gait.” There may also be a less of a swing in the arms when walking.
Cramped or small handwriting
When a person starts to develop abnormally small or even cramped handwriting it could be a sign of Parkinson’s.
The condition is known as micrographia and doctors associate it with medical conditions that affect the nervous system or neurodegenerative disorders like Parkinson’s disease.
Loss of smell
When a person seems to have more trouble with smelling foods or if the sense of smell has changed it could be a sign of Parkinson’s.
Known as hyposmia, it occurs when someone loses their ability to smell. Loss of smell is one of the most noticeable symptoms of Parkinson’s.
Poor balance
Parkinson’s specifically targets nerve cells which reside deep within the brain. Basal ganglia nerves control balance and flexibility, so any damage to these nerves can impair a person’s balance.
Your GP will perform a test known as the pull test to assess a person’s balance and determine if it might be Parkinson’s disease.
Facial masking
Facial expressions involve subtle, complex muscle movements. If a person’s facial expression becomes more serious, depressed or mad looking it could be a symptom of parkinson’s.
Facial masking is related to bradykinesia. The facial muscles move more slowly or rigidly than usual and people may also experience eyes blinking slower.
