Parkinson’s disease is a condition that affects around 145,000 people in the UK. According to a Parliament Report, every hour two more people are given a Parkinson’s diagnosis. This makes it the fastest growing neurodegenerative condition in the world. Knowing this, it is natural that people will worry about being diagnosed with Parkinson’s. Therefore, it is important to be aware of the early signs of Parkinson’s disease.
What is Parkinson’s Disease?
Often shorted to Parkinson’s, it is a neurological disorder that primarily affects movement. Parkinson’s disease is progressive, damaging parts of the brain over many years and leading to difficulties moving. There are also several psychological symptoms.
A Parkinson’s diagnosis is most often associated with slower movement and tremors. People living with the condition experience stiffness in their muscles, which contributes to their mobility difficulties.
Living with Parkinson’s may also cause difficulties sleeping, affect memory, and lead to feelings of depression and anxiety.
Parkinson’s causes a loss of dopamine. This chemical supports the body’s nervous system by helping send signals to the brain. With Parkinson’s this dopamine is lost at a faster rate than is experienced by others, leading to reduced mobility.
Early Signs of Parkinson’s Disease
In its later stages, Parkinson’s results in poor mobility, stiffness in the limbs, and a poor sense of balance. Earlier on, however, the signs may not be so obvious, or may be confused for other conditions. Here are ten of the early signs that someone may be developing Parkinson’s disease.
1. Trouble Sleeping
Many people experience trouble sleeping in their lives. Insomnia is a common problem and it can be difficult to maintain good sleep hygiene when we live busier lives. However, consistently struggling to sleep can be a sign of Parkinson’s.
Dopamine helps us maintain healthy sleeping patterns. The loss of dopamine that results from Parkinson’s could, therefore, result in interrupted sleep, or difficulty sleeping at all. People with Parkinson’s may be restless in bed or move around a lot in their sleep. They may also experience sudden movements that wake them up or stop them from falling asleep. These are known as “hypnic jerks”.
However, these are not guaranteed to be early signs of Parkinson’s disease.
2. Dizziness
Difficulties relating to balance are a common symptom of Parkinson’s disease. As a result, there may be an increase in dizziness. This may occur when someone stands up from a chair, gets out of bed, or simply when walking around.
It is also possible that this dizziness leads to falls or fainting. These can be frightening experiences.
Dizziness, however, is not always a sign of Parkinson’s disease. In fact, there are many other potential causes, such as low blood pressure, dehydration, hunger, or other illnesses. If someone is experiencing frequent dizziness, though, it is important that they arrange an appointment with their doctor.
3. Small Handwriting
If someone’s handwriting has started to become messier and more cramped together, this could be one of the early signs of Parkinson’s disease. This is because the condition affects mobility, including stiffness in the limbs. When this stiffness affects the hands, it can cause handwriting to become less well-spaced.
Other conditions could affect a person’s handwriting. For example, arthritis also causes stiffness in the joints of the hands, which could make it harder for people to write neatly. Deteriorating vision could also lead to smaller handwriting.
If these are not the cause of small handwriting, however, it is best to arrange a doctor’s appointment.
4. Difficulty Walking
Another symptom that could be one of the early signs of Parkinson’s disease but may also be triggered by arthritis is difficulty walking. Because Parkinson’s causes stiffness in the limbs, one of the places it may first start to be noticed is when walking. A person’s arms may not swing as much as they used to, or they may no longer walk at the same speed.
It is also possible that they will begin to adopt a more stooped position. Parkinson’s patients have commented that the stiffness often begins in the shoulders or hips.
If not caused by Parkinson’s or arthritis, difficulty walking may be the result of an injury. After a fall, a person may not realise they have hurt themselves until some time later.
5. Stooping
Stooping doesn’t only occur when walking around. It may be that a person struggles to sit upright or leans more when standing at rest.
As people age, poor posture can begin to affect their bones or muscles. This can result in stooping or hunching that is not one of the early signs of Parkinson’s disease. It may also be caused by an injury or even another illness.
However, if a person is stooping more often and struggling to stand or sit up straight, a doctor’s appointment can help identify the cause.
6. Constipation
One of the side effects of a Parkinson’s diagnosis is increased occurrences of constipation. The main trigger for this is the lack of dopamine in their system. Dopamine supports all muscle control in the body, including that of the bowel. Therefore, it may not work as efficiently.
Later in a Parkinson’s diagnosis, a lack of exercise and eating or drinking problems can further contribute to constipation.
Whilst poor diet can also cause constipation, as can certain medications, it’s important to recognise this as one of the potential early signs of Parkinson’s disease.
7. Soft Spoken
The neurological impact of a Parkinson’s diagnosis can also affect a person’s communication skills. As well as restricting hand movement when writing, reduced muscle control can also affect speech. Therefore, speaking softer could be one of the early signs of Parkinson’s disease.
A person’s voice may suddenly start to become quieter, deeper, or breathier. Sometimes they may sound as though they have a sore throat. As well as being quieter, the psychological impact of Parkinson’s may result in a person finding it harder to organise their thoughts. Conversations may begin to move too fast for them to keep up.
Of course, other conditions can affect a person’s voice. Even common illnesses such as cold or flu can cause voice changes. If these voice changes doesn’t pass, however, it may be a sign that a doctor’s advice is needed.
8. Loss of Smell
Another neurological symptom of Parkinson’s, but a much lesser known one, is a loss of smell. Dopamine transports information through your nervous system, and this includes information from your senses. As a result, a lack of dopamine resulting from Parkinson’s disease could mean someone loses their sense of smell or taste.
Of course, a cold or flu can also affect smell and taste, as can other illnesses such as coronavirus.
If someone is struggling to identify strong scents, such as liquorice or banana, they may be experiencing difficulties with their senses. Consider a trip to the doctor if their sense of smell doesn’t return after some weeks.
9. Facial Masking
Sometimes, a person’s face may appear angry, sad, or serious without them realising. This will happen even if they don’t feel that way, and most often occurs when they’re at rest. For example, someone may be sitting in front of the television and appear angry despite enjoying their show. This is called facial masking.
This isn’t always one of the early signs of Parkinson’s disease, as it can be caused by certain medications. If this isn’t the cause, however, a doctor may recommend a person presenting this symptom gets assessed for Parkinson’s.
10. Tremors
When people think of Parkinson’s disease, tremors are one of the first things that come to mind. In later stages of the condition, these tremors most often affect the hands, but can occur elsewhere. They usually begin as small movements that get stronger. A person with Parkinson’s has no control over this tremor.
Parkinson’s tremors can occur in two ways: resting or action. As the names imply, one occurs when someone is at rest. It may involve a movement known as ‘pill-rolling’, in which the thumb and forefinger rub together. An action tremor occurs when the person is trying to do something.
Early on, these tremors can appear as small, involuntary movements in fingers or thumbs, and sometimes the chin. However, tremors could also be a sign of low blood sugar, stress, or an injury. Some people also experience tremors after exercise.
Getting a Diagnosis
A person experiencing a combination of these symptoms should consider visiting their doctor and requesting a Parkinson’s assessment.
There are no tests that can conclusively prove whether a person has Parkinson’s. Instead, a doctor performs an assessment based on the patient’s symptoms, medical history, and a detailed physical examination. They may ask a patient to keep a record of symptoms before the date of the assessment.
You can find out more about the assessment process by reading our Your Parkinson’s Assessment: How It Works article.
Naturally, a Parkinson’s diagnosis can be upsetting. Fortunately, having a diagnosis makes it easier for patients to access the most relevant support. Moreover, doctors will be able to refer the patient to supportive therapies or prescribe medication that can alleviate Parkinson’s symptoms.
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Editor’s Note: This article was updated on 21st May 2024.
